Tencent and NetEase Navigate China’s New Gaming Time Restrictions

It has just been declared that Chinese authorities are enforcing a ‘gaming time cap’ nationwide once more as the winter school break approaches. The duration, scheduled from January 15 to February 14, will allow millions of kids to be out of school for a well-earned vacation – but their gaming hours have been curtailed by the government.

Both Tencent and NetEase, two of the largest gaming companies globally, ‘have indicated their compliance’ with the regulations. During the month-long holiday, children will be allowed to play a mere 16 hours of video games.

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Establishing the Conditions

According to a report released by the South China Morning Post (uncovered by Malaysia’s publication, The Star), the stringent regulations were thoroughly detailed, including the measures publishers are taking to limit access to games.

Tencent has committed to a plan that permits children (individuals under 18 years old) just 15 hours of gaming from January 13 to February 13. Meanwhile, NetEase, the gaming giant associated with the recent Marvel Rivals launch, will allow 16 hours within the same timeframe.

The authorities have emphasized that one hour per day will be available on Fridays, weekends, and holidays. This was a system first implemented in 2021, as the Chinese government expressed concerns over young people spending excessive time on video games.

At the time the regulations were enacted, over 200 gaming firms vowed to comply with the rules.

This might be surprising, given that China represents one of the largest gaming markets and the broader gaming industry globally. Last year, the country launched Black Myth: Wukong, one of the most successful games in recent times and a massive hit.

In a concerning excerpt from The Star’s report, it stated:

Tencent announced that it has intensified its detection measures to better identify and penalize offenders during the forthcoming holiday.

It has also developed a ‘high-risk account database’ that flags adult accounts that may be borrowed by minors, requiring facial recognition to verify identities.

It’s important to highlight that anyone over the age of 18 is unrestricted in how many games they can play.

Do you believe this is an excessive regulation, or should other nations follow China’s example? Share your views on the Insider Gaming forum.

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For additional Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news regarding Dynasty Warriors 10’s cancellation.