Game consoles may soon be legally available in China for the first time in over a decade.

A government source told China Daily that talks are underway to lift the ban that was introduced in 2000 due to fears that consoles impeded the physical and mental development of the young.

"We are reviewing the policy and have conducted some surveys and held discussions with other ministries on the possibility of opening up the game console market," said the Ministry of Culture source.

"However, since the ban was issued by seven ministries more than a decade ago, we will need approval from all parties to lift it."

Despite the ban, consoles are readily available on the black market in China, and sales peaked between 2006 and 2010 during the motion control boom.

"I could sell as many as 10 consoles a day back in 2006. The net profit was high because there were fewer competitors," said one illegal trader.

"Now buyers can get access to game consoles in every major electronics market near their homes but old customers know we are still selling video games here."

Locally-made consoles are also available, sold under the guise of "sports and entertainment machines".

Regional analyst Lisa Cosmas Hanson of Niko Partners is skeptical that the console ban will be lifted anytime soon.

“We do not believe the government will overturn the ban in the immediate term,” Hanson told GamesBeat.

“We have heard from our own sources over the years that the ministries do consider lifting the ban on consoles, but that much work would need to happen in order to make it official.

"The Ministry of Culture has authority over consoles yet other ministries also are involved with imports, trades, game hardware, computer hardware that has powerful processors within, and more.”

Microsoft’s Kinect peripheral was made available in China last year for medical treatment and education purposes, and the country is the world's biggest manufacturer of Xbox consoles.