Chinese streaming regulations are notoriously strict, so much so that GTA was banned from being shown on platforms like Douyin, Huya, Bilibili, and PandaTV. GTA 6 may be permitted, but with a laundry list of caveats that essentially turn Grand Theft Auto into a sightseeing simulator.
In China, livestreaming games that haven't received the necessary government approval is prohibited under national regulations introduced in 2022.
According to local media outlets such as IT Home (via Yahoo), a document titled 'Guidelines for Compliance During Livestreams of GTA 6' was reportedly leaked by a Douyin creator, and its URL originates from ByteDance's corporate domain, lending legitimacy to their claim.
Access to the document has been blocked, but not before its contents were shared to the internet. The guidelines stipulate that streamers must avoid revealing clothing or certain emojis, and must black out the screen during gory scenes, or adjust blood effects to appear gray or green (something that many games in China do already, such as PUBG and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive). Streamers must also avoid attacking bystanders, assaulting police officers, or, bizarrely, stealing cars.
However, local outlets report that "the online rumor about 'securing streaming rights' has no basis in fact."...
