China thaws game-license freeze with 80 new approvals

China is finally permitting new games to begin earning revenue there for the first time since March. The country issued 80 licenses to primarily domestic developers making mobile games. This will enable these apps to go on sale or to begin offering premium in-game purchases.

The Chinese State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, and Television that regulates video games posted a list of the new licenses on its website. This should help investors regain some confidence about the $30 billion Chinese gaming industry. It should also help bolster the stock price for major domestic publishers like Tencent and Netease — although that may take some time.