(Yicai) May 21 -- New video games developed by industry giants Tencent Holdings and NetEase were not among the 96 domestic titles approved by China’s cybersecurity regulator this month.

Games from mid-sized developers such as 37Games, KingNet Network, NiuxGame, and Archosaur Games did make the list, which was released yesterday by the National Press and Publication Administration.

The approved games include some adaptations such as three based on Chinese animations and one based on Kung Fu Panda, a film by Universal Pictures.

China has issued 524 licenses for domestic online games so far this year and 46 for imported titles. From January to March, more than 100 permits were handed out each month. That dipped to 95 last month.

Compared with last year, the monthly figure has remained relatively stable in 2024, showing that regulation of the gaming industry is stabilizing, according to Jiang Xiaoxiao, managing director of China Insights Consultancy. The industry is reviving and is set to continue growing, he added.

Editor: Tom Litting