Apple has removed 30,000 apps from the Chinese version of the App Store, according to Bloomberg. Of the deleted apps, 90 percent are games.
The background to this move is a law from 2016 that stipulates developers must obtain a permit from the Chinese authorities to get their apps approved in the country. In the past, companies have found various loopholes to get around the regulations, but Apple is now obliged to ensure compliance with the law.
Many popular games such as Grand Theft Auto 5 have never been licensed by the Chinese authorities, as they are considered far too violent. It will also be difficult to get a permit for games that deal with viruses and other sensitive substances.
Earlier this year, popular podcast apps were removed, on the basis that they enabled users to access banned material. Similar rules also apply to other app stores, such as Google Play.
This article originally appeared on Macworld Sweden. Translation by David Price.
