SHANGHAI (CHINA) – Apple Inc on Saturday removed as many as 29,800 applications from its Chinese app store and they include more than 26,000 games, said data research firm Qimai.
The move comes amid a crackdown on unlicenced games by Chinese authorities.
Earlier this year, Apple issued game publishers a July deadline to submit a government licence number that enables users to purchase apps.
The Android app stores in China have complied with those regulations.
Apple removed more than 2,500 titles from its app store in the first week of July. The games removed include titles from Zynga and Supercell.
“This affects small- and mid-sized developers’ incomes the most, but due to the difficulties of acquiring a business licence, it’s devastating to the whole iOS game industry in China,” said Todd Kuhn, marketing manager for AppIn China
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field