Apple has removed thousands of apps from its Chinese App Store due to lack of licencing, according to a Reuters. In total, more than 39,000 games have been purged from the Store.
The report suggests that some of the titles affected include Assassin’s Creed Identity and NBA 2K20, with only 74 of the top 1,500 games on the Chinese App Store still available.
Alongside the 39,000 games, Apple removed another 7,000 apps from the store, bringing the total to 46,000, in order to comply with new Chinese laws surrounding licensing.
The company previously asked developers to prove that they had a license for their games by June 30, but this deadline was extended to New Year’s Eve amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apple then froze updates on thousands of games without a license in July, and removed 30,000 games in August, making this December 31 cull the latest in its efforts.
It’s reported that Apple’s decision comes off the back of increasing government pressure to comply with local regulations. Apps available in China must be licensed and be published by a known source – those who have failed to comply have now seen their products removed.
Are you affected by the change? Let us know and check back soon for more App Store news.