The Battle Royale shooter H1Z1 is coming to China soon. However, the game needs to have a different name to avoid violating “Chinese values.” Additionally, “educational content” is to be emphasized in the game.
H1Z1, formerly known as “King of the Kill”, is a battle royale game that even had PUBG creator Brendan Greene involved at the time. As in PUBG, players in H1Z1 fight for survival on an ever-shrinking map and brutally eliminate each other.
The Chinese publisher Tencent has now acquired the rights for H1Z1 in China. However, to market the game there, it must first be adapted to “Chinese values” and convey “educational values.”
H1Z1: King of the Kill was probably too brutal, soon to be called “King of Survival” in China
The Chinese government sees elements of decadent gladiatorial games from ancient Rome in battle royale games. Such “entertainment” does not fit with China’s socialist culture. Therefore, previous titles like PUBG will be revamped for the China launch. The same likely goes for H1Z1, whose previous subtitle “King of the Kill” is to be reformulated in China to the less brutal “King of Survival.”
According to a press release from Tencent, they want to “continuously strengthen the educational values” of H1Z1, while remaining true to the design philosophy behind the game. However, the publisher did not reveal how this will be achieved.
Tencent has PUBG & H1Z1 and thus a quasi-monopoly on battle royale in China
Those familiar with China and its economy know that the Middle Kingdom pursues a strictly protectionist line. The goal is to strengthen the domestic economy and protect it from foreign influences. Such bizarre government demands make it difficult for foreign companies to gain a foothold without a strong Chinese partner.
Therefore, the Chinese publishing giant Tencent will presumably be able to market H1Z1 in China with minimal changes, such as the softened title. Curiously, Tencent now has both H1Z1 and its competitor PUBG in its portfolio, thus holding a quasi-monopoly on the battle royale genre in China!
