China Bans Foreigners from Owning Online Games
World of Warcraft could be hit again as joint ventures are also prohibited.
World of Warcraft has been in regulation limbo for months.
China is known for its rather restrictive policies regarding online activity, and today the country has announced a ban on all foreign investment into its online gaming industry.
"Domestic online gaming operations through joint ventures, wholly owned enterprises and cooperatives" are prohibited from investment by foreign parties following a notice by the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), Reuters reports.
It could put the brakes on efforts for Warcraft rivals to stay competitive using the global investment stage. Recent news of Shanda Games offering North American investors the opporunity to buy a billion dollars worth of shares could be thrown into the air over this announcement.
Activision Blizzard has only just got their flagship MMO, World of Warcraft, back on Chinese computers after a seemingly endless regulation tussle that required the US publisher to censor its "unhealthy content". The company switched its joint venture to a new Chinese operator, Netease.com, Inc, but the fact that ActiBlizz is involved at all could make Chinese authorities look at the legitimacy of Warcraft yet again.
"Domestic online gaming operations through joint ventures, wholly owned enterprises and cooperatives" are prohibited from investment by foreign parties following a notice by the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), Reuters reports.
It could put the brakes on efforts for Warcraft rivals to stay competitive using the global investment stage. Recent news of Shanda Games offering North American investors the opporunity to buy a billion dollars worth of shares could be thrown into the air over this announcement.
Activision Blizzard has only just got their flagship MMO, World of Warcraft, back on Chinese computers after a seemingly endless regulation tussle that required the US publisher to censor its "unhealthy content". The company switched its joint venture to a new Chinese operator, Netease.com, Inc, but the fact that ActiBlizz is involved at all could make Chinese authorities look at the legitimacy of Warcraft yet again.
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HAHNGLADYS 17 Feb 2012 03:45
1/1
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