Loot Box Legislation
Australia proposes a crackdown on loot boxes and in-game gambling
The proposed changes would impose an advisory age limit on loot boxes
Tiktok Trouble
TikTok banned on government phones in the UK
The social media app has faced criticism regarding security concerns
Chinese Gaming Industry
Chinese games industry publishes draft of rules for self-regulation
The rules aim to address problems in the industry such as copyright disputes and gaming addiction without the need for government interaction
Aquiblizz
UK Competitions & Markets Authority rumoured to block Activision Blizzard acquisition
According to sources, Microsoft are actively anticipating a possible block on the Activision-Blizzard acquisition by the UK CMA
Revenue
Genshin Impact surpasses $4bn in lifetime revenue
Genshin Impact hits new revenue highs, bringing in over $4bn of revenue within two years of launch
Regulation
China lifts licencing freeze with 44 new approved international games
Chinese regulators granted 44 licences for international games to be distributed in the country, including to major corporation Tencent
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – January’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. Starting with… January
China And Cyberspace
China’s Cyberspace Administration plans to confront mobile app "chaos"
The body aims to tackle a supposed prevalence of fake apps, illegal data collection and more
Lacking Licences
October saw the return of no new game licences in China for the first time in six months
But concerns of another licence freeze may be overly hasty
Chinese Gaming Market
China’s gaming market decreases 19.1% quarter-on-quarter
The Chinese market is valued at $8.2 billion
Microsoft Activision Deal
EU antitrust regulators set a date regarding Microsoft's acquisition of Activision
The investigation will conclude in November but if concerns are raised an extended phase could begin
Children's Code
One year on - how is the gaming industry dealing with the Children's code?
Companies are uncertain about age verification standards
Gaming In China
Niko Partners: 40% drop in Chinese young gamers after September regulations
However, the number of Chinese gamers will rise to 115 million by 2026, predicts the market intelligence provider
Home Of The Hoyoverse
miHoYo selects Singapore as metaverse division headquarters
HoYoverse development will be focused in the city state
Government Clamps Down On Loot Boxes
UK government demands games industry reevaluate loot boxes
The government stopped short of a crackdown
Rules And Regulations
Tencent confirms strict gaming restrictions for minors in China will continue
Strict regulations attributed to stagnation of growth in Chinese tech industries
Chipset Court Case
Qualcomm wins four-year battle against $1 billion fine from EU antitrust regulators
Following accusations of paying Apple for exclusive use of Qualcomm chipsets
Regulatory Reversal
China approves 60 more games in 2022
58 titles approved by the National Press and Publication Administration are explicitly mobile games, in continuation of regulatory reversal
Regulate This
US to tighten advertising guidelines against “fake reviews” and manipulative advertiser behaviour
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking to strengthen its guidelines in an effort to stop advertisers from posting fake positive reviews and abusing social media platforms
Cites Regulatory Crackdown
Tencent revenue growth slows to a crawl following China’s crackdown on tech companies
Net profit fell to 23.4 billion yuan in Q1 2022 – down 51 per cent year-on-year from 47.8 billion yuan
Collaborate And Cooperate
Developing the metaverse must prevent harm, Meta's Nick Clegg states
Former UK deputy prime minister shares outlook from virtual glasses to practising surgeries
F In Chat
China halts unauthorised games livestreaming
Latest regulations apply to unauthorised and non-domestic games
Curtailing
Tencent shuts down Chinese gamers access to overseas games
Incoming update to network acceleration app will halt users playing foreign games and accessing foreign online servers
Open For Business
China lifts games licence freeze, 45 new games approved
New games from XD Inc, Yoozoo Games, and more after nine month standstill
Tackling Gatekeepers
Apple may be forced to allow sideloading and third-party payment systems in EU
Digital Markets Act will tackle "gatekeepers"
Standards Stated
South Korea approves new app marketplace rules
Apple and Google required to allow third-party payments
Fifth Time's A Charm
Dutch antirust regulator serves Apple fifth $5.7 million fine
ACM claims Apple's suggestions are "unnecessary and unreasonable"
Vamoosed
FIFA Mobile pulled from Vietnamese app stores
"Local regulations issues" lead to complete service shutdown
Under Observation
PG Connects London: The regulations surrounding free-to-play
Wiggin associate Isabel Davies talks the changes in regulation that affect the monetisation and marketing of F2P
Pg Connects London
Can't make PG Connects London? Check out what our speakers have been discussing
F2P regulations, off-trend games, and raising investment in your studio among hundreds of topics
Pg Connects London
Road to Connects London: Wiggin's Isabel Davies on F2P regulations
Wiggin LLP's Isabel Davies presents a sneak-peak into her PG Connects talk on F2P regulations
Power Restored
Tencent has app capabilities reinstated following ban
App updates spotted on App Store
Marketplace Dominance
Apple and Google hold a "vice-like grip" on UK consumers, says competition regulator
Suggests actions to decrease the mobile marketplace duopoly
Tencent Suspension
China suspends Tencent from updating or launching apps in Mainland China
Apps and games remain functional
Domestic Disappointment
Tencent's international game revenue up 20% but local restrictions hit domestic growth
International revenues spurred by Clash of Clans and Valorant
Circumventing Regulations
Chinese websites already allowing kids to avoid age-time restrictions
Rent Honor of Kings accounts from $5 for two hours
Joyless Juveniles
China’s youth criticise government’s new regulations
Teens took to Weibo to voice frustrations
Clamping Down
China limits under 18s to three hours online gaming a week
New regulations prevent minors from playing games Monday through Thursday
Big Brother Is Watching
Tencent forewarns of increased regulations and restrictions in China
The company expressed intent to remain fully compliant with future regulations
Cracking Down
Tencent stock falls by $60 billion following criticism from state media
Honor of Kings set to be implemented with new constraints
Game On
Chinese games regulators gave approval to 1,411 games last year
1,311 were domestic games while 97 were imported
China Regulations
Will China’s new regulations push game publishers towards other emerging markets?
Nativex general manager Tiffany Ou looks at what's to come
China Isbn
China App Store ISBN License: non-compliant games risk being delisted
Yodo1 offers its advice and expertise
Regulatory Brawl
Supercell pulls games out of Vietnam in face of regulations
Likes of Clash of Clans, Clash Royale and Brawl Stars no longer playable in the country
Region Focus
Region Focus: How China’s big game freeze has made local developers more internationally minded
“It has been a battle to survive the approvals drought and studios have had to get creative”
New Policies
Google Play developers must now disclose loot box odds
Details surrounding “randomised virtual items” must be clearly shown
The Bell Tolls
Nintendo pulling Fire Emblem Heroes and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp in Belgium amidst loot box concerns
Fire Emblem Heroes and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp will be taken offline in August
News Analysis
US senator introduces bill to ban loot boxes in games played by children
“Social media and video games prey on user addiction, siphoning our kids’ attention from the real world and extracting profits from fostering compulsive habits"
The Debate Continues
Germany considering new minor protections laws against loot boxes and mobile monetisation
The state of Bavaria has proposed new guideline citing the “exploitation of the inexperience and credulity of adolescents”
Game For Peace?
Tencent shuts down PUBG Mobile in China
Replaces with new, similar battle royale title Game for Peace that has received government approval