The Chinese government is stripping away its last restrictions on the sale of video game consoles, but the action is unlikely to significantly boost the fortunes of dominant manufacturers Microsoft and Sony.
Instead, the removal of a 15-year-old ban on console sales actually could intensify competition in China for Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation.
Xiaomi, Baidu, ZTE and other Chinese technology companies are now free to position their own entertainment devices more as gaming consoles. That’s because a policy change confirmed last week by the Chinese Ministry of Culture opens up all of the country to the manufacture and sale of consoles, whether by domestic or foreign companies.