There are only a few countries out in the world that do not have access to Pokemon GO, along with other Augmented Reality games, and one of those happens to be China. While most other countries don’t have it because of things like translations and so on, China doesn’t have Pokemon GO, and won’t have it, until the government there finished evaluating the ‘risks’ it may pose.
The risks are regarding national and population related security, or something along those lines, that eager Pokemon trainers may pose a threat to. According to Reuters, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) will not license/release Pokemon GO, or similar games that have Augmented Reality style gameplay, in China until they have had ‘adequate time to evaluate the risks involved’ with releasing said titles.
According to the games panel of the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association, which is essentially moderated and run by the SAPPRFT, the risks include “threat to geographical information security and the threat to transport and the personal safety of consumers.” Seeing as how playing Pokemon GO players have had numerous accidents and even some deaths due to distracted driving and walking, it sadly makes some sense. We have even reported on some of them.
So folks in China will have to wait for a bit longer to play Pokemon GO. In other news, Space Invaders has been recalled until further risk evaluation can be had as well, just to be sure we are not transmitting important information to some far off planet to have their inhabitants come and invade Earth. We should all be thankful.
Websites Referenced: Reuters via TouchArcade
