PlayStation expansion into China planned

by Andrew Yoon on Jan 13th 2011 9:00PM

Sony is finally ready to take on one of the largest emerging markets in the world: China. A report in China Daily details Sony Computer Entertainment's plans on expanding into the Asian mainland. According to the report, Sony recently signed a letter of intent detailing plans to implement training and R&D facilities in Guangzhou province. The project is apparently "the first investment by SCEI in the mainland."

In addition to localization, Sony plans on developing games in the region. Facilitating homegrown content for local markets follows the standard set by Sony's other recent expansions into India and South America. Although a timetable for launch hasn't been set, expectations are quite high for PlayStation's first release in the country. Guangdong Animation City (GAC), an investor in PlayStation's Chinese expansion, noted that the industry could expand its worth to over 100 billion yuan (about $15 billion) annually within the next five years. Obviously, Sony would do well to capitalize on such staggering potential.

Source: China Daily

Tags: china, guangzhou, localization, playstation, ps3, psp, sony

Reader Comments (41)

Nah, I think the people of China will stick to playing their StationPlay 3s, Wees & Ybox 630s

@Prboi I c wut u did thar. I wonder if sony will pay their workers in yuan, US dollars, or euros.

So does this mean more Sweatshops making Sony products? O_o

@JnRx

Weak.

@JnRx

Racist. Dislike.

感谢神!

@Yuglyoshi I thought consoles were banned?

-- Found it --
http://kotaku.com/5587577/why-are-consoles-banned-in-china

@Prboi

PCs can do anything. I think China bans any electronic devices and apparati which are exclusively used, only used, and/or where it's main functionality/purpose is for video gaming entertainment.

He's not kidding.

Look up Ashens and it'll show all the China knock-off brands such as the Vii, Airphone(iPhone), Haipod, PCP Station(no joke), and many more.

@Dhexodus

Doesn't China have PC games?

Try to sell your product in a country that has the blue prints for your device and can make cheaper versions of said product? Good luck with that, Sony.

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames

Really? If you hate the 360 so much, why mention it so much? Shouldn't you be talking about PS3 & only PS3 since you love it so much?

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames
Can't be any cheaper than the PS3 LOL because I've heard that it's built out of chewing gum and homeless people. But hey... that's just what I heard

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames
It's not that the Chinese can build a cheaper 360, it's that they can build a cheaper 360 that isn't a defective piece of s**t LOL

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames

If you were an actual fan of PS3 & not a fanboy, you would state exactly why the PS3 is better without poking fun at the opposing console. You think making fun of Avatars & Kinect is helping Sony? You think Saying 360 is a hardware failing piece of garbage is helping Sony? The only way you could possibly help Sony is by getting PSN+ & buying everything on PSN.

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames

"I don't pay to play games online"
-Yet you pay to do other things like watch TV, use the internet from a computer, talk/text people on your cell phone right? They're entertainment, shouldn't it be free too?

" I don't pay for ads"
-Yet you see commercials every single day of your life. On the TV that you pay to watch.

"I don't play dressup with some silly Avatar that Sony forced on me either"
-Oh yeah, because it's clearly stated that Microsoft forces you to change your Avatars clothes at least once a week or they will terminate your account. Can you bring me that quote, I must have lost it.

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames

Does the way I argue turn you on or something? I bet it would, am I right?

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames

I'm very happy with the PS3. Demon's souls and GT5 present real challenge.

Not that the other consoles suck.

But I think emerging markets will love the PS3, especially since they love the PS2. I hope Sony is working hard to fight piracy. Maybe somehow they can enact a hardware solution and a new chinese region for PS3 games, such that they can overcome the current exploits.

they are going to get mad when they find out that Buda was a hacker.......

Presumably with a new master key so they don't hit the ground already compromised. Of course, that would break compatibility with existing PS3's, but since it's an entirely new market that they probably want to remain self contained, that doesn't really matter.

I thought proper consoles were illegal in mainland China? Or did they finally pass some law changing that?

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames

Way to show your fanboyism. Well it seems the other console is here to stay considering how much it's in demand. You can debate all you want about why the other console sucks but it is a fact that it is not dying

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames
6.2 billion in the last year is a hell of a way to die

There is still a world to do here in South America

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames
"we don't need no stinking avatars"
The PS3 does have avatars though.
Nice fail champ.

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames

Nothing to look forward to? You do realize that there is more to the gaming business than just exclusives right? So what if 360 doesn't have a shitload of exclusives, it doesn't need those exclusives like Sony does. the 360 has all the support from 3rd party companies & third party content that comes to their console. Ever stop to realize that multiplatform games sell more on 360 than on PS3? Ever think that maybe MS might be benefiting from that a bit? Sony is losing money from the PS3 launch & is only making it worse because of PSN. Sony had to dump even more money into the debt pool in order to gather up studios to make exclusive titles so they can try to get out of it. But they keep getting deeper & deeper each year the. Ever wonder why they added PSN+?

Finally. If Sony does this right it could bring in a huge profit.

anyone know if Sony is releasing the PS3 over there or starting with the PS2?

http://img.alibaba.com/img/imagerepos/cn/20/cn200061075/1269409275000_hz_myalibaba_web18_1388.jpg

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames

Protip guys:
http://i52.tinypic.com/2d27m2r.jpg

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames

Exclusives matter? That's why they're selling out PS3's right? Oh wait a second, they're not. Fact is, 360 will continue to outsell PS3's until the next generation. People think paying for online is bad? Then they should talk to their ISP & ask if they can access the internet for free too since PSN is free and all. The 360 came out a year ahead of PS3 (Which gave Sony time to see what they did & improve upon it), the 360 had a 70% hardware failure rate, the 360 supported a losing format, inferior specs, no true 1080p support, no HD Movie support, no wifi at launch, a small list of exclusives. Yet, in spite of all that, it still sells more. The people still want it. The people are willing to buy the 360 over a PS3 despite of all those things I listed? Now are you going to use your last resort & say that people are just stupid for buying 360? Or are you going to stop being a little old troll & just go play your PS3 & leave everyone alone?

@Prboi
You do realise MS pays for exclusives games and DLC, even if it's only timed deal. In fact the only reason some games like FFXIII even went to 360 was by Ms grasing square-enix's pawm. I find it a bit funny your proclaiming Sony is failing by doing something that MS has spent this entire generation doing.

@HR

I never said Microsoft was the good guy. Nope, not once. I know MS buys out game developers to get game on their console. It's called 3rd party support. Why do you think MS is still in the game. Exclusive/Timed exclusive DLC, believe it or not, makes money. What this guy is saying is that the PS3 is better than the 360. On paper, yes he's right. The PS3 is far more superior than 360. But that's just it. Despite it being inferior it sells more. People want it more. MS is competing with Sony & in turn they are making things happen that 6 years ago, we never would have thought would happen. Gamers are reaping the benefits of this MS Sony rivalry. Metal Gear Solid on 360? Final Fantasy on 360? Mass Effect 2 on PS3? Portal 2 on PS3? You see what I mean. Sony & MS are no better than one another, but their actions are what keep core gaming alive.

@ Probi

Depends on which company to listen to. However if it makes a difference I really couldn't care. I have a stack of " sopposedly" AAA games this generation that I've played a couple of hours got bored and sat them on a shelf. I'm pretty much done with this generation. Hopefully the next will bring something more to the table than a prettier picture :)

China is a MASSIVE market, but a tough nut to crack into. If they succeed, that means a lot of good things, including increased trade in other products to and from China.

I really hope they can do this because of the potential for everything and everyone. If thats the case, Sony deserves the profits they will make from it.

@DontYouEverStopPlayingGames

So this has gone from a 360-PS3 discussion to a why Kinect sucks discussion. Nice way to change the subject & try to sound smart in doing so boyo. Like I said, I know MS is not a good guy. I know it's all business for them. But the way you praise Sony, you make it seem like they have only made right decisions. It makes me laugh really how you can follow Sony like some all mighty deity who can do no wrong.

PS2早就进入中国了啊?

"Facilitating homegrown content for local markets follows the standard set by Sony's other recent expansions into India and South America."
Either this bit needs expanding or Sony is two-faced. If the later is the case, then how do they propose to make money solely on hardware that not only costs more to make than they can sell it for, but also sell it in impoverished and/or rural areas (and, yes, that was a little redundant)?

The more we can get China to buy from Japan the better.

People, consoles are not "banned" in China as Kotaku falsely claims. The restrictions only apply to commercial arcade machines, not home consoles. Consoles such as the PS2 are available in department stores of major Chinese cities. Even the arcade restrictions are rarely enforced by police.

http://www.donews.com/it/201008/187839.shtm

That's right, if they SELL them to the Chinese, they won't have to STEAL them from production lines.

@Enosoma
exactly

PlayStation expansion into China planned

Reader Comments (41)

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:04PM Prboi said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:12PM BlackLuigi7 said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:11PM JnRx said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:26PM Dustin F said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 10:55PM FakeKevinButler said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:12PM Yuglyoshi said

Posted: Jan 14th 2011 12:15AM beckerist said

Posted: Jan 14th 2011 5:55AM Ballistic H said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:24PM Dhexodus said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:29PM Prboi said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:19PM Undying said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:47PM Prboi said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:56PM Crayola Q Pants ESQ said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 10:11PM HR said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 10:24PM Prboi said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 10:44PM Prboi said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 11:33PM Prboi said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:28PM Dustin F said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:30PM Hunter141072 said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:34PM sigma8 said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:38PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:45PM Prboi said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 9:54PM Crayola Q Pants ESQ said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 10:04PM Angel Mass said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 10:08PM mcnichoj said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 10:19PM Prboi said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 10:21PM Narutogameking said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 10:22PM EliminatorZigma said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 10:26PM Mach2 said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 10:36PM Prboi said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 10:41PM HR said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 10:52PM Prboi said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 11:03PM HR said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 11:07PM Cavall said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 11:32PM Prboi said

Posted: Jan 13th 2011 11:32PM ybfelix said

Posted: Jan 14th 2011 12:05AM naginalf said

Posted: Jan 14th 2011 9:57AM C1 said

Posted: Jan 14th 2011 12:16PM Wongfeihong said

Posted: Jan 14th 2011 1:03PM Enosoma said

Posted: Jan 15th 2011 5:10PM apache said

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