Sony Corp. announced that the PlayStation 4 gaming console will go on sale in China starting Jan. 11. This significant start date marks an end to a 14-year ban on foreign gaming consoles, which limited U.S. brands from tapping into the third-largest gaming market until next month.

The announcement by Sony followed rival Microsoft's launch of the Xbox console in the Asian country, as the competition continues between the two tech giants.

Sony said it plans to sell the PS4 for 2,899 yuan, or about $468, in China, slightly above the selling price of $400 in the U.S., Reuters reports.

But despite the mini-arms race brewing between Microsoft and Sony for stakes in the Chinese gaming market, the country's strict censors may prove to be an even bigger obstacle.

"The Chinese censor will be Sony's biggest challenge," Roger Sheng, research director at tech firm Gartner, said.

The censorship rules will likely limit the number of game titles available initially, as analysts need to vet all software before it can be sold. The approval process can be lengthy.

In its address Thursday, Sony promised to bring many titles to Chinese gamers.

"Cooperating with the government, we'll provide a broad range of content for our users in China," Hiroyuki Oda, the head of business in Asia at Sony Computer Entertainment, told reporters.

A spokesman for Sony said several titles have already been approved, and the company has sent for licenses for 30 games already.

However, some of the best-selling PlayStation games, like "Grand Theft Auto" titles that feature gruesome killings and provocatively-dressed women, are not expected to be approved.

The PS4 was first launched in the U.S. and Europe last year in November, quickly selling more than 13 million units globally by September. This has been the fastest-selling PlayStation model since the console's launch in 1994.

Comparatively, Microsoft sells the Xbox for 3,699 yuan, roughly $598, and has 10 titles available in China. These games are typically sport-related games like "Forza Motorsport 5." Microsoft hasn't released sales figures for the Xbox's performance in China.