Chinese government hints at changes to its game console guidelines following 14-year ban

China's Ministry of Culture is reworking guidelines surrounding the standards of console games sold throughout the country following a 14-year ban on the sale of foreign systems, according to a press conference in Beijing last week attended by Bloomberg.

In a statement by head of China's ministry of culture Cai Wu, guidelines for console manufacturers and developers are to be drafted and released in the near future to developers of games and gaming systems.

"Things that are hostile to China, or not in conformity with the outlook of China's government, won't be allowed," Cai said, referencing content of non-admissible games in the country.

"We want to open the window a crack to get some fresh air, but we still need a screen to block the flies and mosquitoes."

For now, the primary requirement for console developers is for products to be built in the Shanghai free trade zone, a newly-established development area for foreign-funded companies which opened last October.

China's prohibition on game consoles began in 2000, but despite the ban, sellers have been able to bring game systems to China through Japan and Hong Kong. Online and mobile games have been permitted in the country and have become popular, bringing in high revenue with "freemium" models.