Shanghai’s government has recently released a policy document entitled Measures to Promote High-Quality Development in the Software and Information Services Industry. One of the most notable provisions outlines a program that allows games developed in Shanghai by foreign companies to be treated as domestic titles. The policy could significantly shorten the approval time for foreign games to enter the Chinese market. It is also intended to position Shanghai as the global hub for gaming innovations. It could allow game giants like Ubisoft or Blizzard, to bypass the lengthy approval process for imports. China’s National Press and Publication Administration, which administers the game licensing system in China, requires that all games undergo content reviews and receive a license to be legally published and operated. In 2024, NPPA issued 1 416 game licenses. Of these, 1,306 were for games developed domestically and 110 for foreign-developed titles.[
New Shanghai policy could accelerate approval of foreign games in China
