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China’s video game regulator approves 173 video games in August 2025 – Niko Partners

The National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA), mainland China’s regulator in charge of game approvals, issued ISBNs for 166 domestic games and 7 import games on August 21, 2025. This is the eighth batch of games approved in 2025 and the highest number of approvals in a single month since September 2020. It takes total approvals for 2025 to 1,050 domestic games and 69 import games.  

New titles from Tencent, NetEase, Shengqu Games, Alibaba, and Bilibili were among those approved. There were also 13 games included on the ISBN change list where games are able to change their name, publisher, or add new platforms. Korean and Japanese games benefited from this round of approvals with licenses issued for Uncharted Waters: Origin (LINE Games/ Koei Tecmo), Chaos Zero Nightmare (Smilegate), and Trickcal Re:vive (EPID Games).  

Total video game approvals in mainland China for the first 8 months of 2025 have reached 1,119, up 21% YoY. We currently project more than 1,600 video games will be approved in 2025, with over 100 of them being import games. A full breakdown of all video game licenses issued by the NPPA is available to subscribers of NikoIQ.   

The regulatory environment continues to improve in China, with the NPPA taking a more frequent and open approach to game approvals. Stay up to date to China video games market as they happen with our China Games Research:   

NikoIQ: Get the latest updates on game approvals, the top internet café games, esports tournaments and all the latest developments shaping the China games market. 

 China Games & Streaming Tracker: Monitor top-performing games, streamers, fan engagement, tips, and more across China’s biggest game live-streaming platforms. 

 China Games Market Report Series: Gain comprehensive insights on China through three-part report series featuring our market model and five-year forecast, exclusive gamer survey data and market trend analysis 

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