Epic Games Store quietly opens shop in China Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Epic Games Store quietly opens shop in China Tim-id. News by Emma Kent Contributor Updated on 22 May 2019 10 comments Blink and you might have missed it, but the Epic Games Store has popped up in China - and players can now use local payment methods to buy games. As reported by Chinese website TechWeb (and spotted by PCGamesN), Chinese customers can purchase games using local payment methods such as Alipay and Wechat - although credit cards cannot yet be used. TechWeb also notes China appears to be a low-cost region, with games such as Metro Exodus and Borderlands priced significantly lower than in North America. You can have a little peep at the site over here. When contacted by PCGamesN for comment, Epic Games said "we look at Epic Games store as a global service and want to make it available to players in every region we can". This doesn't really explain why the launch has been so low-key, and this has led to speculation that the company doesn't want to draw attention from the Chinese government - which has recently been tightening its video game approvals process. It's an odd situation, as earlier this year Epic Games said its Chinese office made it "sensitive to what is legal and what is not", adding "the way our competitor operates offshore is not legal in China" (via Venturebeat). Chinese government censorship, while slightly terrifying, has also given us gems such as Game for Peace - where players wave goodbye when they die. Steam, meanwhile, has been accessible in China for several years in an unofficial capacity. Last year it was announced that Valve had formed a partnership with a Chinese company to allow the storefront to launch officially, but no set date was given, and we've yet to hear anything since (via The Verge). It also seems likely that version will launch with government-approved censorship: the type that recently saw Tencent re-launch PUBG Mobile as Game for Peace. In any case, the move into the Chinese market is a natural one for Epic, as the PC gaming community there is pretty damn large. Only two weeks ago, game market research firm Niko Partners reported there are now more Chinese PC online gamers than the entire population of the United States. In financial terms, annual revenues from PC online gaming in China will reach $16bn (£12.5bn) by 2023. In other Epic Games Store news, the company has launched its first-ever major sale, which is currently offering customers £10 off all games over £13.99. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Sennheiser's legendary HD 599 open-back headphones are just £70 at Amazon in the Prime Early Access Sale Comfortable with neutral sound and a wide sound stage. Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. 1 Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store