New Pokemon Snap Becomes First Pokemon Game Released in China Since 2000

Since China banned consoles in 2000, New Pokemon Snap has finally broken the 24-year trend. The game became the first Pokemon game released in the country after China started to open its borders to more official video game releases in 2015.  

New Pokémon Snap, Pokémon UNITE, Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!, and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! will soon be released on the Nintendo Switch in mainland China, beginning with New Pokémon Snap on July 16 pic.twitter.com/xFqh65n71X

— abcboy (@abcboy101) July 13, 2024

For context, the Chinese government imposed a near-complete ban on video game consoles in 2000 due to concerns about video game addiction and its negative influence on younger players. These restrictions are typically related to broader policies governing foreign media and content rather than a specific ban on Pokemon.

However, despite being considered a mostly family-friendly show, Pokemon episodes and games, particularly those featuring elements of competition or fantasy, might require modifications or face delays in approval like New Pokemon Snap.

Also Read: New Pokemon Game Set to Release in 2025: Pokémon Legends: Z-A

New Pokemon Snap in China Has Different Modifications

As the first Pokemon game released since the console ban in 2000, the Chinese government has made ample effort to ensure that New Pokemon Snap follows its imposed rules on video games. Released on July 16, many fans began searching for differences between the modified and international versions, and they found one crucial change.

Curiously, the sun symbols/icons have their triangular rays edited out and replaced with dots or rectangles.
It could be that that the original icons, especially the Profile Icon, resembles the Taiwan or Kuomintang Emblems a bit too strongly. pic.twitter.com/6uIAv5FcPy

— Chinese Nintendo (@chinesenintendo) July 21, 2024

For example, the sun symbols and icons have their triangular rays replaced with dots or rectangles, possibly due to their resemblance to the Taiwan or Kuomintang emblems. For context, the Taiwanese flag features a white sun with triangular rays in its top left corner, similar to New Pokemon Snap’s original profile icon.

On the other hand, the Chinese Nationalist Party, also known as Kuomintang, has a similar emblem, which may be the reason behind the decision to change the shape of the sun icons in this Chinese version of New Pokemon Snap. It’s unclear if the changes and self-censorship were to ensure approval, but the changes to prevent political issues are crucial.

Other Pokemon Games and Nintendo Switch Games Will Follow New Pokemon Snap

In addition, China plans to adopt more games, specifically Nintendo Switch games, to the country. Following New Pokemon Snap’s footsteps, Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu / Eevee will also be available soon.

Moreover, other Nintendo Switch games such as Super Mario 3D World + Browser’s Fury, award-winning The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Immortals Fenyx Rising, Zengeon, and Samurai Shodown will be available in the country, too.

It is a massive movement forward from the console-locked country as the mobile game “Pokemon GO” faced specific challenges due to concerns about geographic data collection and augmented reality features, which led to its limited availability in China.

Why Did China Ban Consoles in the First Place?

As mentioned earlier, China’s long-standing ban on video game consoles began in the early 2000s and lasted until 2015. While Sony’s PlayStation 2, the best console ever released, and Nintendo’s consoles were some exceptions thanks to a partnership with iQue, many famed consoles, such as Xbox 360, failed to release in China.

According to China’s implemented rules, the ban was due to cultural, economic, and social reasons. For example, the Chinese government expressed concerns about the potential negative impact of video games on youth, including addiction, exposure to violent or inappropriate content, and the perceived encouragement of time-wasting activities. Thus, the ban was their way of protecting young people from these perceived harms and promoting more traditional and educational forms of entertainment.

Moreover, China has strict regulations on media content to ensure it aligns with state policies and cultural values. By banning consoles, the government could limit the availability of unregulated foreign content and ensure that any games accessible to Chinese consumers met its standards.

Lastly, the ban on foreign consoles was a way to protect and promote the domestic gaming industry. It proved to be a stroke of genius as China has dominated the mobile gaming industry with games like Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, Wuthering Waves and Zenless Zone Zero. With more to come, this ban allowed local companies to flourish in the digital gaming industry, developing games and platforms that catered to Chinese tastes and regulatory requirements.

Closing Notes

With everything said and done, New Pokemon Snap becoming the first Pokemon game released in China since 2000 reflects China’s growing interest in the global entertainment industry and its desire to balance openness with control over cultural content.

While games still require a review process to ensure they align with local cultural values and political standards, lifting the ban has allowed the Chinese player base more gaming options and the ability to participate in global gaming trends and communities.

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