Hangzhou has pledged $14 million to video games and esports amid signs that government crackdowns have eased.
Hangzhou, a Chinese hub for tech startups, has pledged 100 million yuan ($14 million) in annual funding amid signs that the government crackdown on video games and esports has eased, according to the South China Morning Post. This was reported, citing a statement by the local government.
The funding program is part of the country’s preparations for hosting the Asian Games, according to the report. The Hangzhou government plans to call on various government agencies in the city to help create a “positive atmosphere of public opinion” during the event, the English newspaper said.
The country’s semi-official gaming industry group has declared that the problem of underage video game addiction has been “fundamentally resolved,” the paper reported. Many academic institutions in Hangzhou, such as Zhejiang University, China Academy of Art and Zhejiang Media Institute, are planning to offer degrees in video game animation and esports, according to the report.
