Chinese government tightens video game restrictions

The Chinese government is further tightening its restrictions on the content of games, according to a South China Morning Post report.

The outlet cites an internal training memo from China’s state-backed gaming association as detailing new, more strict guidelines around what type of games will be approved for release in the country.

It notes that video games aren’t “pure entertainment” and they must represent “a correct set of values” of the country’s history and culture said the publication.

The memo also explains that titles featuring queer romance and “effeminate males” are not likely to be approved for licensing.

“If regulators can’t tell the character’s gender immediately, the setting of the characters could be considered problematic and red flags will be raised,” reads the memo.

With these new implementations the South China Morning Post notes that violent titles which allow players to be good or bad wouldn’t be seen favorably.

“Some games have blurred moral boundaries. Players can choose to be either good or evil … but we don’t think that games should give players this choice … and this must be altered,” said the memo.

Additional topics such as history and religion were also given specific suggestions in their depictions within games as well.

This news follows China’s ban on livestreaming by children under 16 earlier this week. Additionally, China has limited gaming time by minors to three hours a week, one hour each on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.