How do you acquire an approval number from China for a mobile game?

Question

GlennRay36 OP

Created Feb ’17

Replies 5

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For the last few days, the following announcement has been appearing as a banner when connecting to iTunes Connect:

Game Licenses in China

Chinese law now requires online games to secure an approval number from the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, and Television. You can enter your game’s approval number and date in the Notes field of the App Review Information section. To learn more, view the full text of the regulation.

I did some research and found that China has begun monitoring the use of mobile gaming by minors and is setting up a system to restrict the use of mobile games by minors beween midnight and 8 AM. One part of that system is obviously the identification of mobile games so that they can be blocked. It seems that for the last few years developers and game companies in China have been required to submit requests for the approval of any mobile games they publish or distribute. And now it seems that system is being extended to foreign developers too.

The link above is interessting, but useless to those of us who don't read Chinese (go ahead and try it -- you'll see an official Chinese notice!). I did find an English translation and one section refers to a “Further Notice on Regulating Publishing of Oversea Internet Gaming Authorization and Video Games Application Materials” for foreign deveopers. Unfortunately, there's no notice by that name on the Internet.

I'd rather not get into the politics of governments registering games, because, if the requirements are too onerous, I'll just take China out of my distribution on the App Store. But just what are the requirements?

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Answer 1

alku86 OP

Mar ’17

can You please write, where did You find english translation?

I was not able to find it.

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Answer 2

cruelkhan OP

Apr ’17

just ask google chrome to translate

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Answer 3

foxcake OP

Apr ’17

Let me explain the rules a little bit... not word by word, just what it requires.

1st, any indie developer in China who wants to apply for this number, has to find an agent company who has the RIGHT to publish, and publish the game in the name of that agent company. For the "publish right" is very hard to get in china and only company can apply for the right. So how much do you think the agents will charge you?

2nd, the apply process is rediculous: you need to provide iPhones with celluar network enabled simcard to the authorities. If you are developing a multiplayer game, you need to provide multiple iphones. If you are developing a cross platform game, you need to provide different phones. Well, they won't keep you phone forever, just during the review period, say couple of months...

3rd, you have to burn 6 CD-Rs of your game and send them by mail, NOT email.

4th, expect for the $ you pay to the agent, you have to pay $ to authorities too.

... I don't to list any more details here. In general, mininum, you may have to pay around US$5000 and wait for several months before you can get the approval number.

The truth is, indie developers in China have F-word the authorities over and over again but they can do nothing about it...

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Answer 4

tkuhns OP

Apr ’20

The laws, rules and procedures are always changing, but I have an always up-to-date, detailed breakdown of the process and requirements here: https://www.appinchina.co/blog/how-to-publish-your-game-in-china

Generally speaking, although all games distributed in China are technically required to get a license, at present time the Chinese regulatory agencies are more strict on games and apps that generate revenue (through either in-app purchases or ads) than those that do not. The Apple App Store in China currently requires a games license number for games that have in-app purchases.

Please note that non-Chinese companies/developers can publish games in China, but they need to partner with a Chinese company like ours (AppInChina) to get a game license, as non-Chinese companies are not allowed to directly apply for a game license from SAPPRFT.

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Answer 5

Yoda-18 OP

May ’24

2024 UPDATED ANSWER:

Navigating the requirements for obtaining an approval number for a mobile game in China can be complex, especially for foreign developers. This is especially true since the Ministry of China is rapidly evolving its regulatory space.

Given the intricacies of the process and the recent extension of these requirements to foreign developers, many choose to partner with local experts. One practical approach is to collaborate with a service like 21YunBox. They specialize in helping Western companies handle the complexities of game licensing in China without needing to develop in-house expertise or resources dedicated to these regulatory challenges. They provide guidance through the entire process, ensuring that your game meets all the necessary legal standards to be published in the Chinese market.

For a more detailed understanding of what's involved, you might find this article helpful:

How to Publish My Game in China: https://www.21cloudbox.com/how-to-publish-my-game-in-china.html.

It offers a straightforward explanation of the steps and requirements, which could provide some clarity on your next steps without getting entangled in political or regulatory nuances unnecessarily.

Hope this helps, and best of luck with your game's release in China!

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