China's State Council is officially lifting its 15-year old ban on the sale of game consoles, giving Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo more access to one of the world's largest video game markets.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Culture, via The Wall Street Journal, the lift will allow foreign and domestic companies to manufacture and sell consoles anywhere in the country.

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China's State Council previously relaxed the ban on the sale and production of foreign games consoles in early 2014. The easement only enabled foreign companies to manufacture and distribute consoles within Shanghai's free trade zone.

China first began to reconsider the ban in 2013, which was established in 2000 over concerns of potential harm to the physical and mental development of children. Plans to lift the ban on foreign console sales were again reported on in October 2013; however, there was no there was no indicator at the time when consoles would potentially be sold in China.

Jenna Pitcher is a freelance journalist writing for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter