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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

HONG KONG, Jan 2 (Reuters) - China removed an official at a government body overseeing its press and publications regulator, five sources who were briefed on the matter said, days after Chinese gaming stocks were hit by proposed rules to curb spending on video games.

Feng Shixin was removed last week from his position as head of the publishing unit of the Communist Party's Publicity Department, the sources said. The department oversees the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) which in turn regulates China's vast video games sector.

China's State Council Information Office, which handles media queries on behalf of the Chinese government, including on personnel matters, did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Reuters was unable to obtain Feng's contact details to reach him for comment.

The five sources said Feng's removal was linked to rules the NPPA announced last month that sent stocks in the world's largest video games sector, including industry giant Tencent (0700.HK), plunging.

The sources declined to be identified as authorities had yet to officially announce Feng's departure.

Feng has in recent years represented the Chinese government at events to discuss authorities' efforts to regulate the industry, including game approvals and real-name verification requirements for gamers. Reuters was not able to establish how long he had served in his current role.

The NPPA's proposed measures, which seek to curb spending and the use of rewards that encourage the playing of video games, triggered fears that authorities were once again cracking down heavily on the sector and wiped nearly $80 billion off the market value of China's two biggest gaming companies.

Analysts also said the plans brought the risks of potential regulatory changes back to the fore in the minds of investors, hurting confidence at a time when Beijing has been trying to boost private sector investment to spur a slowing economy.

Five days after the rules were announced, the NPPA struck a more conciliatory tone, saying it would improve them by "earnestly studying" public views.

Beijing cracked down heavily on its video gaming sector in 2021, setting strict playtime limits for under 18s and suspending approvals of new video games for about eight months, citing gaming addiction concerns.

The crackdown was part of a wider regulatory tightening across several sectors, including technology and property, and led to 2022 being the Chinese gaming industry's most difficult year on record as total revenue shrank for the first time.

China's video game market returned to growth last year as domestic revenue rose 14% to 303 billion yuan ($42.47 billion), according to industry association CGIGC.

($1 = 7.1340 Chinese yuan renminbi)

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-removes-official-after-video-games-rules-spark-turmoil-sources-2024-01-02/

 

[Last Hearth]

The problem with what's going on in China is that it's not ruled by law, but the personal whim of Xi.
And Xi is a capricious individual who has many desired outcomes, and not a few of them are in conflict with each other, and the order of precedence changes constantly on the fly depending on how he feels.
So bureaucrats running the country trying to accomplish the goals he states are all walking in a minefield, because when it harms some other goal he has, it maybe ok if today he decides this goal is more important, but maybe next time he thinks the other goal is more important and they are punished.
I've heard stories of officials trying to help the slumping economy (one of Xi's stated goals) by asking Japanese firms to resume placing orders with the manufacturing firms in China, which some Japanese firms said they will consider but they need to send representatives to inspect the factories. But then those inspectors can't get their Visa approved to go to China because the Visa approving department has been given instruction to keep all suspect foreign influences out of China (another of Xi's stated goals). It's a complete mess and total chaos.

 

[Torrent of Pork]

We should start a game like Germany or Florida where we take headlines of fucked up occurrences, and have to choose between China, or Warhammer 40k.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

The problem with what's going on in China is that it's not ruled by law, but the personal whim of Xi.
And Xi is a capricious individual who has many desired outcomes, and not a few of them are in conflict with each other, and the order of precedence changes constantly on the fly depending on how he feels.
So bureaucrats running the country trying to accomplish the goals he states are all walking in a minefield, because when it harms some other goal he has, it maybe ok if today he decides this goal is more important, but maybe next time he thinks the other goal is more important and they are punished.
I've heard stories of officials trying to help the slumping economy (one of Xi's stated goals) by asking Japanese firms to resume placing orders with the manufacturing firms in China, which some Japanese firms said they will consider but they need to send representatives to inspect the factories. But then those inspectors can't get their Visa approved to go to China because the Visa approving department has been given instruction to keep all suspect foreign influences out of China (another of Xi's stated goals). It's a complete mess and total chaos.

Guess it's time for him to be replaced.

Anyway, this reversal was quick. Like "faster than it takes to reach MW3's end credits" quick. Like wow.

 

[midnightAI]

Guess it's time for him to be replaced.

Anyway, this reversal was quick. Like "faster than it takes to reach MW3's end credits" quick. Like wow.

 

[Daneel Elijah]

The problem with what's going on in China is that it's not ruled by law, but the personal whim of Xi.
And Xi is a capricious individual who has many desired outcomes, and not a few of them are in conflict with each other, and the order of precedence changes constantly on the fly depending on how he feels.
So bureaucrats running the country trying to accomplish the goals he states are all walking in a minefield, because when it harms some other goal he has, it maybe ok if today he decides this goal is more important, but maybe next time he thinks the other goal is more important and they are punished.
I've heard stories of officials trying to help the slumping economy (one of Xi's stated goals) by asking Japanese firms to resume placing orders with the manufacturing firms in China, which some Japanese firms said they will consider but they need to send representatives to inspect the factories. But then those inspectors can't get their Visa approved to go to China because the Visa approving department has been given instruction to keep all suspect foreign influences out of China (another of Xi's stated goals). It's a complete mess and total chaos.

Older but still with some good points:

China is big. Closer to gaming, but still old:

AS for this news, hard to see what will happen. No more pay to win would have been a win, but I can understand China being unhappy if they loose money and allow other countries to take advantage of this law to hurt Tencent and other chinese companies. I suppose that the law will make it so either only chinese citizens are subjet to it, so the games stay the same in other countries, or only new games are concerned by this law, with old games having time to comply, or a little of both.

 

[StereoVsn]

Guess it's time for him to be replaced.

Anyway, this reversal was quick. Like "faster than it takes to reach MW3's end credits" quick. Like wow.

He just kicked out whole bunch of generals and Defense Minister. There is nobody who would dare even float that sort of things in China.

It’s basically Emperor Xi and that’s it. Witness self own economic issues due to championing State Enterprises. So dealing with China will get worse till he kicked the bucket like in Mao times.

 

[VolticArchangel]

So, turmoil in Mandarin translates to "$80 billion USD loss of market cap in our two biggest conglomerates". Got it.

 

[Kurotri]