Exploring Cultural Policy and Gaming Entrepreneurship in Shanghai: An Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Perspective

The formation and development of the Chinese digital game industry has been heavily predicated on domestic cultural policies. Recent years have seen an increasing emphasis of local cultural policies on entrepreneurship in cities known for vibrant creative economies. Using an entrepreneurial ecosystem approach, this chapter attends to the thriving gaming entrepreneurship in Shanghai and explores how the relevant set of cultural policies affects gaming venture creation. By analyzing gaming entrepreneur interviews and policy content, the chapter details gaming entrepreneurs’ reaction to two key elements of the entrepreneurial ecosystem: financial capital availability and support services. The findings highlight the Chinese game industry’s evolving scene of bottom-up creativity.