Sony, Japan’s leading electronics company, has recently launched its PlayStation 4 gaming consoles in China after a few months of delay.
In 2014, China has finally allowed game consoles to be domestically available through the country's first free trade zone in Shanghai. The decision has ended an almost-fifteen-year-old ban that aims to protect the Chinese youth.
The launch of Sony's PlayStation 4 consoles was originally slated last January, making Sony the second foreign firm to enter the Chinese market after Microsoft launched the Xbox One in Sept. 2014.
In a Shanghai Sony store, a number of people gathered to buy games, consoles and the hand-held PlayStation Vita.
One of the costumers, Engineer Gu Chunhua, remarked his excitement over the gaming gadgets, saying: "It's quite exciting that we can have this in China now."
The PlayStation 4 is available for 2,899 yuan, while the PlayStation Vita can be bought at 1,299 yuan.
However, some of the game enthusiasts were disappointed over the small variety of games initially offered. PS4 does not yet include the all-time favorite "Grand Theft Auto."
To date, only four PS4 titles are available at the flagship Shanghai store. These are the fantasy adventure "Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends," the youth-oriented "Rayman Legends and Knack," and the motorcycle racing game "Trials Fusion."
Analysts have agreed that the key to long-term success in China is a wider set of game choices.
Jack Huang, associate partner at OC&C Strategy Consultants, stated: "Just having the console is only the first step; access to high-quality games remains the biggest driver for console sales."