Microsoft announced late last month that it would sell its console in China, and now Sony says it will do the same.
Following the relaxation of a law in China that banned foreign game consoles outright for 14 years, Sony will establish a joint venture with Shanghai Oriental Pearl (Group) Co. to start manufacturing and selling Playstation hardware and software in China.
It’s unclear exactly when Sony will start selling in China and which products will be available. Microsoft will sell the Xbox One there starting this September, partnering with BesTV New Media Co., a subsidiary of China’s Shanghai Media Group.
Selling to the Chinese market is a seen as a potential economic boon for both Microsoft and Sony. Microsoft said last month that there are 500 million people playing games in the country on computers and devices — a third of China’s population and more than the entire population of North America. Meanwhile, Bloomberg noted that the video game industry in China will generate $10 billion in sales next year.
The Xbox One still trails the $399 PS4 in worldwide sales, while Sony’s console has held a sales lead in the U.S. for the past four months.
