Google could be bringing Google Play to Android devices in China as part of a deal with NetEase.

Sources speaking to The Information claim that NetEase has approached Google about a deal to bring the store to the region. However, no deal has yet been closed.

Google's services are currently completely blocked in the region after it exited China due to stringent censorship regulations which the search engine giant would not adhere to.

Same old story

It is also reportedly not the first time that Google has been approached by local companies to re-enter China. The Next Web claims that Google was set to launch a censored Google Play store in China in 2015 but talks eventually fell through.

Whether a deal would generate much revenue for Google is another question entirely. The Android app stores in China are highly fragmented and it's unclear what Google could offer above other providers.