Apple Enforces Chinese Law Banning Thousands of Games

Earlier in February 2020, Apple sent a notification that by June all App Store developers would need to have an ISBN registration with the Chinese Government if their app or game contained any paid features. Failure to do so would have their product removed from the China App Store. Now, reports have arrived that Apple has begun enforcement of this rule and has already banned nearly 8,000 games.

 

The Chinese law itself was originally enacted in 2016, but Apple was slow to tidy up the App Store until now. This is in part due to a loophole in which Apple would often accept fake unregistered ISBN numbers. The regulation was more heavily enforced on China Android alternative app stores. ISBN also only applies to paid games or those with in-app purchases; ad only revenue games are exempt.

Even big publishers are not exempt, with some of their games being in jeopardy of becoming inaccessible or non-functioning within mainland China. Electronic Arts informed Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes players that the game would be discontinued in the region. If a game is removed, the publishing company still has an option of applying for an ISBN.

Kurtis Seid, NoobFeed
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