Citi: China Internet — August 2026 Game License Batch: 209 Domestic and 6 Imported Titles; Tencent Receives One
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China's National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) announced on August 31 its eighth game-license batch of 2026: 215 titles (209 domestic, 6 imported), the largest single batch on record, topping last month's 197 and the first above 200 in roughly five years. Approvals were actually completed on August 28—the domestic portion comprises 191 mobile, 15 cross-platform, and 3 PC titles, with imports split four mobile and two cross-platform.
Citi notes year-to-date average batch sizes run above 2025 and forecasts full-year 2026 approvals of 1,900-2,100 titles versus 1,771 last year. Tencent received one cross-platform strategy game (Yijue Sanguo) plus a PC-version supplement for Teamfight Tactics. Other grantees include 37 Interactive Entertainment (two mobile titles), Shengqu Gaming under Century Huatong, Thunder Games under G-bits, Youzu Interactive, and Changyou. Imports include a Netmarble-licensed cross-platform action RPG (Solo Leveling: Arise) and titles licensed from Korea's Playwith and Devsisters and Finland's GoodVole. The NPPA also published changes for 12 previously approved games. Citi expects batch sizes to fluctuate but sees normalized approvals ensuring ample new-game supply, and remains positive on online-gaming earnings resilience after second-quarter results validated healthy industry trends.