console-ban
Latest
Report: Sony to ship 200K PS4s to China by December
Sony plans on bringing 200,000 PS4 systems to China by December, Bloomberg reports. The number comes from a filing on the Chinese (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone website, which reportedly notes that Sony intends on shipping that many consoles to the region on an annual basis. Sony Computer Entertainment spokesman Masaki Tsukakoshi confirmed the report with Bloomberg and noted that the actual PS4 production amounts may vary. This follows news of Microsoft's relative success in China, as it reportedly sold 100,000 Xbox One consoles in its introductory week. Microsoft is the first to bring an official foreign console to China in 14 years since the government lifted its console ban in January. China issued a new set of rules for foreign video game and console sales in April, one of which requires that companies work with a China-based partner. Sony paired with the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group in May to bring the PS4 to the country. [Image: Sony]
Chinese Xbox One launch bumped to end of September
Following a recent, unexpected delay, Microsoft has moved the Chinese launch of its Xbox One console from September 23 - today - to September 29. That news comes courtesy of Engadget Chinese, which points out that September 29 falls right before a long holiday weekend, allowing new Xbox One owners the chance to properly put the console through its paces. Unfortunately, that may be more difficult than one would expect. Chinese authorities have only approved 10 Xbox One games for sale at the console's launch, and while Microsoft claims to be preparing an additional 70 games, there's no word on when they might reach Chinese retail shelves. Despite all of this, the Xbox One launch should be seen as a momentous occasion, as it marks the first time a foreign-built console will be sold publicly in China in more than a decade. [Image: Microsoft]
Xbox One launching in China this September
Microsoft will launch the Xbox One in China this September, following the Chinese government's decision in January to lift its ban on the sale of foreign video game consoles. The ban stood for 14 years, and with its dismissal China crafted new rules to regulate console and game distribution. Among those rules is the requirement for foreign companies to work with local organizations to produce consoles within the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, which Microsoft can fulfill thanks to its partnership with Chinese media company BesTV. The Xbox One manufacturer teamed up with BesTV in September 2013 to create E-Home Entertainment. Microsoft holds a 49 percent stake in E-Home and BesTV holds 51 percent, both combining to invest $237 million. E-Home Entertainment plans to establish an "innovation program" that will foster Chinese development on Xbox One. Microsoft launched the Xbox One in 13 regions in November and announced plans last month to bring the system to 26 more markets in September (with China now making that 27). [Image: Microsoft]
China drafting new rules for consoles, disallows products 'hostile to China'
Roughly one week after China temporarily lifted its ban on foreign-made video game consoles, the government is looking to draft new rules for regulation, Bloomberg reported. Among the principles that govern the distribution of game consoles under the rules of the free trade zone, head of China's Ministry of Culture Cai Wu said "things that are hostile to China, or not in conformity with the outlook of China's government, won't be allowed." "We want to open the window a crack to get some fresh air, but we still need a screen to block the flies and mosquitoes," Wu added. Whether that indicates further regulation in China on the distribution of games based on their content is unknown. China started its plans last year to revoke the console ban, which began in 2000. Following the ban's temporary suspension last week, the stock prices for both Sony and Nintendo saw small increases.
Nintendo, Sony stock strengthens following suspension of Chinese console ban
After China opted to temporarily lift its ban on foreign-made video game consoles earlier this week, both Nintendo and Sony saw small bumps in their respective stock prices. As of this writing, Nintendo shares are trading at $18.66, whereas Sony is trading at $18.25. By comparison, Nintendo closed Monday at $17.01 and Sony closed at $17.30. Nintendo's shares lifted to 15,850 yen on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Wednesday, an 11 percent increase, then closed Thursday at 15,420 yen. Sony closed at 1,894 yen Thursday, up from Monday's 1,802 yen. Nintendo's increase is the highest since it traded at 16,430 yen in July 2011, at which point Nintendo dropped the price of the 3DS from $250 to $170, resulting in a stock plummet the company is still recovering from. To temper the excitement, both Nintendo and Sony's movements aren't enormous compared to its recent history. Additionally, both company's consoles were available in China as grey market imports, so the suspension of the console ban in the country just makes access to game systems that much easier. As Gamasutra points out though, should Sony or Nintendo begin manufacturing systems in the free trade zone, it must all be inspected by Chinese authorities before the consoles can be legally sold in the country, which might be enough time for the government to resume the console ban altogether.
China makes strides toward lifting console ban
The Chinese government passed a ban on foreign video game sales 13 years ago but, as of earlier this year, agreed to re-evaluate its stance. While video game consoles could technically bypass the ban established in 2000 – Sony launched the PS2 in Shanghai and Guangzhou in 2004 – through additional language guaranteeing the console isn't "unhealthy," the law has since opposed mass video game console distribution throughout mainland China. Now China is outlining a plan, which would see a free-trade zone set up in Shanghai, to allow foreign firms to sell consoles and internet-based services, The Wall Street Journal reports. Of course, China is no stranger to video games: Popular games such as FIFA, DOTA 2 and Monster Hunter Online are all offered, albeit through direct Chinese publishing firms. Just last week, Microsoft announced a partnership with Chinese media company BesTV to offer games and related services to the citizens of China. The common thread is that any foreign company wishing to publish a game in China needs to do so through a Chinese company. These new regulations – the full list of guidelines is forthcoming – could potentially mitigate the need for Chinese companies having to play middle man, and allow foreign companies to directly sell products and services to the Chinese through this free-trade zone. There's even the potential to sell across all of China, though the Ministry of Culture has final approval on each console.
Happy Halloween! You're banned from Xbox Live.
We hope your recent forays into piracy merely involve you donning a hook and eyepatch for a debaucherous costume party, or else you likely received a message from Microsoft like the headline of this post. The company recently dispatched a wave of bans to owners of modded Xbox 360s who've been playing pirated copies of games. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed to IGN that "we have taken action against a small percentage of consoles that have been modified to play pirated game discs." The spokesperson went on to explain that this batch of console bans wasn't conducted on any particular time frame, and that the company was merely following up on its standing policy against piracy. In other words, Microsoft isn't trying to ruin your Halloween weekend -- it just, you know, worked out that way. [Image]
