China’s 14th Five-Year Plan for National Informatisation emphasizes the digital transformation of cultural industries through investments in immersive experience products leveraging technologies like 5G, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence. The plan underscores the strategic importance of advancing China’s cultural soft power globally. State support, evident in initiatives like the National Key Cultural Export Enterprise and Project lists, aids companies, especially mobile gaming firms, in achieving international success. However, this support raises security concerns as these companies amass vast amounts of user data, potentially influencing perceptions and realities through immersive environments.

Within China, the gaming sector faces heavy regulation aimed at controlling playtime, particularly among minors, and ensuring content aligns with state-defined values and narratives. Government directives mandate that games portray “correct” values and accurately reflect Chinese history and culture, though interpretations of correctness are subject to debate. Political censorship extends to game content, with topics like Taiwan or sensitive political themes banned within China. Despite these restrictions, some Chinese gaming companies produce globally popular games, exporting censorship standards and ideological narratives beyond China’s borders.

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