Why Sony Block PlayStation Store In China

PS4 photo illustration (Fabian Albert / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The console game service provider, Sony, is reported to have blocked access to the PlayStation Store in China for an undetermined time. Security problems that are quite detrimental to multinational companies are said to be the cause.

Sony revealed the closure without giving further details, including how long the closure took place. The announcement was made via the Weibo social media account.

Although it seems sudden, however, on social media, the news about Sony's vulnerable security system is widely discussed. One PlayStation user in China has found a loophole to access a non-Chinese version of the store to download games that have not been approved by the country's regulators.

It is known that China is a country that has strict rules regarding any content owned by producers other than their citizens. Until game consoles are completely banned in China due to concerns of the authoritarian Chinese government about fears that violent play could adversely affect the mental health of young people.

They made the ban an excuse aimed at curbing game addiction in young people as well. The regulation was repealed in 2015. However, the Chinese government is still adamant about industry's efforts to enter the country's lucrative market.

PlayStation itself entered the Chinese market since 2015. However, PlayStation users in China are only allowed to have a very limited collection of games, with only 13 new titles added last year.

The Nintendo Switch has only been given three official game collections since its launch in partnership with Tencent - a giant technology company from China - last December. Given the country's strict regulations, Nintendo fans in China found a way to access popular unlicensed games, including the popular game Animal Crossing: New Horizon.