Nearly three years after a hit Pokémon game was found to be inaccessible in China, mainland fans of the franchise may finally have something to be excited about.

According to a report Monday by Reuters, tech giant NetEase has announced plans to release Pokémon Quest in China, which would make it the first Pokémon mobile game to be officially released in the country. Preregistration for the action-adventure offering — which had already been launched for players outside China last year — is now available on its Chinese website.

Despite rumors that global sensation Pokémon Go would be the first to break into the domestic market, the 2016 mobile title has remained virtually inaccessible in the country since its release, with authorities citing security risks to explain its absence.

Given China’s history of unpredictable licensing, foreign games often have difficulty finding their way into the country. However, local audiences are no strangers to Pokémon, with 2019 live-action movie “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” garnering over 491 million yuan ($71 million) at the Chinese box office since its debut on May 10. (Image: VCG)