Nintendo has achieved a major milestone in its ongoing expansion into China.

On July 16th 2024, Nintendo managed to release New Pokemon Snap for the Chinese version of the Switch. Although not a mainline title, this makes the spin-off the first Pokemon game to be released in China in over 20 years. China had previously banned videogame console imports in the year 2000, and only began to ease restrictions in 2015.

New Pokémon Snap was officially released in China on July 16th, 2024.

This is the first ever Pokémon game officially released China after the console ban in 2000, with Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee! preparing for release.https://t.co/oqKrH7s3Zg pic.twitter.com/JwHxnGdIYp

— Chinese Nintendo (@chinesenintendo) July 21, 2024

Following up on New Pokemon Snap, Nintendo is also preparing to release Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee in China, along with the following additional games:

• Super Mario 3D World + Browser’s Fury
• Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• Immortals Fenyx Rising
• Above Qimen
• Samurai Shodown

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.