Sony Corp's PlayStation 3 wins quality certification from Chinese safety standards body

Sony Corp's PlayStation 3 has won a certification of quality from a Chinese safety standards body, which had led to speculation that China would end a decade-old ban on home game consoles.

China has banned video game consoles since 2000, citing a need to protect the well-being of its young people and some analysts have cautioned against reading too much into Sony's new certificate, noting the organisation that gave it had no regulatory authority.

According to Lisa Cosmas Hanson, managing partner of US video games consultancy Niko Partners, the ministry of culture had the regulatory authority over the console segment and was the sole organisation that could revoke the ban.

According to the China Quality Certification Centre website, two models of the PlayStation 3, labelled "computer entertainment system" had been approved this July. All products need to pass the safety standard before these could be sold to Chinese customers.

Sony confirmed having been granted the certification but did not spell out whether this would lead to the Playstation finding its way into the world's second-largest economy or whether the company needed further certificates.

Sony spokeswoman Mai Hora said, it did not mean, the company had officially decided to enter the Chinese market. She added Sony recognised China was a promising market so it would continuously study the possibility.