52: What China’s Video Game Regulations Mean for the Rest of Us

In December 2023, China released a set of proposed regulations on its video gaming industry. The regulations would have targeted many of the most common monetization features in video games — like daily log-in rewards, bonuses for first-time users of in-game currencies, and “loot boxes,” a kind of randomized prize draw that some liken to legalized gambling. But then something happened: The release of the proposals caused Chinese gaming stocks to plunge, and the government quickly walked the regulations back. Here we unpack what this incident tells us about the regulatory power of the Chinese government, the influence of China’s tech industry, and even government anxieties about online life. For more, read a related commentary by the Baker Institute’s Brandon Zheng. This conversation was recorded on May 21, 2024. Discussants Steven W. Lewis, Ph.D. C.V. Starr Transnational China Fellow, Baker Institute Brandon Zheng Research Associate, China Studies Program, Baker Institute The Honorable David M. Satterfield  Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy