Tencent, NetEase Summoned Over New Gaming Rules for Kids

Several Chinese regulators Wednesday called in online gaming companies including Tencent Holdings and NetEase to ensure they follow Beijing’s new restrictions on video gaming for minors.

Several major gaming publishers, game account rental platforms and video game livestreaming platforms were summoned for the meeting, which was held by the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party and the National Press and Publication Administration (NAPP). Officials from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism also attended, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.

“All gaming companies have to strictly enforce the orders of the notice and thoroughly implement the play-time restrictions on minors when they are providing online games to them,” according to a statement on Xinhua.

The background

Authorities last month issued new rules limiting the amount of time children can play video games to three hours a week, a dramatic blow to the world’s largest mobile gaming market.

The stringent limits on youth gaming time will reduce video gaming companies’ user activity and income, though they maintain that minors account for only a small portion of revenue.

Author: Han Wei, Caixin Global