Video games get age-based ratings in China under new guidelines long sought by parents and gamers upset by censorship

China’s video games watchdog has announced a new age-based rating system, the latest sign that China is stepping up regulations on what is now the largest industry in the country’s entertainment sector.

The China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association (CADPA), a government-backed industry group, revealed the new system at the Chinese Games Industry Annual Conference (China GIAC) in Guangzhou on Wednesday. Formally known as the Online Game Age-Appropriateness Warning, the new standards have officially entered a pilot phase, said Zhang Yijun, the first deputy chairman of CADPA.

The new standard divides games into three age categories: eight, 12 and 16 and older, represented by green, blue and yellow labels respectively. The guidelines state that games must display ratings on their website, registration page, login screen and other relevant materials.

“The focus of this standard is very clear,” Zhang said. “It highlights compliant publishing and the appropriate use of online games. It is primarily aimed at providing positive guidance for underage consumers.”

Liao Xuhua, an analyst for Beijing-based consultancy Analysys, agreed that it was about offering guidance to buyers, differentiating the new system from guidelines that companies might use to create age-appropriate content.

“It is more similar to parental guidance, letting parents know what games are appropriate for minors,” Liao said.