(Yicai Global) July 31 -- China's gaming sector picked up the pace to increase its earnings in the first half of this year as the group of gamers grew to a record-high after the nation's entertainment watchdog approved more new releases, including Tencent's Peacekeeper Elite and Baidu's Five in a Row.

The gaming sector boosted its total operating income by 10.8 percent to earn CNY116.3 billion (USD16.9 billion) during the six months, according to a report published by data company JoyNews. The pace of growth surpasses the 5.2 percent clip of the previous year.

In the first half, China had about 554 million gamers, a three-year record, as the number rose 5.1 percent from the same period of last year, according to the same report.

After more than a year of strict regulation, the market rebounded on user growth and developments in foreign markets, the report added. Authorities approved 20 more titles for release this month, including two from NetEase, the General Administration of Press and Publication announced on July 29.

Mobile games made up 60 percent of the total revenue at CNY70 billion, up nearly 19 percent from the same period of last year. E-sports, mostly played on mobile, brought in CNY51.3 billion, with an annual growth of almost 23 percent. PC games rose more modestly after last year's decline. Overseas revenue of domestic titles rose almost 24 percent to USD5.7 billion. 

Editor: Emmi Laine