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Console manufacturers could be on the verge of a potentially very significant payday.
The Guardian reports that talk coming from China suggests the state is preparing to lift its decade-long ban on the sale of games consoles. The ban was introduced in 2000 to safeguard children’s mental and physical development”.
"We are reviewing the policy and have conducted some surveys and held discussions with other ministries on the possibility of opening up the game console market," an official from the ministry of culture is quoted as saying.
"However, since the ban was issued by seven ministries more than a decade ago, we will need approval from all parties to lift it."
Other officials have denied the reports, however.
The talk follows similar rumours from late last year, which at the time revolved around the official classification of two PS3 models.
The potential of the Chinese market needs no outlining. Indeed, the news of a possible lift to the ban saw Sony’s shares surge eight per cent and Nintendo’s 3.5 per cent.
