China’s video game regulator NPPA approves 156 video games in September 2025
The National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA), mainland China’s regulator in charge of game approvals, issued ISBNs for 145 domestic games and 11 import games on September 24, 2025. This is the ninth batch of games approved in 2025 and takes total approvals for 2025 to 1,195 domestic games and 80 import games. New titles from Tencent, NetEase, miHoYo, Alibaba, and Giant Interactive, and 37Games were among those approved.
Notable import games included Astro Bot for PS5 (Sony), Dave the Diver for PC (Nexon), Split Fiction for console and PC (Electronic Arts), and a new Maplestory mobile game (Nexon). The most important domestic game approval was for Honkai: Nexus Anima, a new title from miHoYo based on its Honkai IP.
There were also 9 games included on the ISBN change list where games are able to change their name, publisher, or add new platforms. For example, Black Myth: Wukong added the Xbox platform to its license after being PS5 and PC exclusive for the past year.
Total video game approvals in mainland China for the first 9 months of 2025 have reached 1,275, up 23% 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 & Livestreaming Tracker: Monitor top-performing games, live streamers, fan engagement, tips, and more across China’s biggest game livestreaming 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.