China to import 45 foreign video games, grants multiple licences to Tencent

BEIJING, Dec 29 (Reuters) – China’s video games regulator granted ublishing licences to 45 foreign games for release in the country，including seven South Korean games, further lifting rigid curbs that have hammered the industry for 18 months. South Korean gaming stocks, including Netmarble Corp (251270.KS), NCSOFT (036570.KS), Krafton (259960.KS), Kakao Games (293490.KQ) and Devsisters (194480.KQ) jumped between 2% and over 17% in morning trade on Thursday, a day after Chinese authorities granted publishing licenses. Among the imported online games approved by the National Press and Publication Administration are five to be published by Tencent Holdings (0700.HK) such as “Pokémon Unite”…