Restrictions may have had little benefit

The South Korean government has lifted a ban on iOS games, reports say. Although the App Store has been accessible in Korea for some time, games were kept out because of rules making it illegal to sell titles not approved by the country's Game Ratings Board. Some limits began falling away in July, though, paving the way toward today's decision.

Koreans can now access some games which had been blocked for almost two years. Selection is currently limited, but is expected to increase quickly, especially as some developers began preparing games early on rumors the iOS ban would be lifted. Local developers have complained that the ban was hurting the Korean game industry, particular in a country where gaming is mainstream entertainment.

The timing of the ban's removal is likely not a coincidence. The iPhone 4S is due to ship to Korea on November 11th, and the government may have wanted to make a decision before that deadline. It's unclear if pressure from Apple, carrier partners, or the gaming industry was involved.

by MacNN Staff