![]() PICTURES | EBEN ETZEBETH ARRIVES AT SHARKS AHEAD OF DEBUT ![]() ![]() It also said that parents and teachers played key roles in curbing gaming addiction.Players can now represent a second nation if they serve a three-year international absence and were either born in the second country or have a parent or grandparent born there. The NPPA regulator told Xinhua it would increase the frequency and intensity of inspections for online gaming companies to ensure they were putting in place time limits and anti-addiction systems. Its president also said it was working with regulators to explore ways in which the total amount of time minors spent on gaming could be capped across all titles in the industry. Tencent later announced new measures to reduce the time and money children spend on games, starting with Honor of Kings. Gaming companies have been on edge in recent weeks as state media criticised gaming addiction among young people, signalling a regulatory crackdown.Ī state media outlet described online games as "spiritual opium" this month and cited Tencent's "Honor of Kings" in an article that called for more curbs on the industry, battering shares in the world's largest gaming firm by revenue. Shares of Chinese gaming stocks slid in pre-market trading in the United States with NetEase falling over 6% and mobile game publisher Bilibili dropping 3%.Ībout 62.5% of Chinese minors often play games online, and 13.2% of underage mobile game users play mobile games for more than two hours a day on working days, according to state media. Shares in Amsterdam-listed tech investment company Prosus (PRX.AS), which holds a 29% stake in Chinese social media and video games group Tencent, were down 1.45%, while European online video gaming stocks Ubisoft (UBIP.PA) and Embracer Group (EMBRACb.ST) each fell over 2%. The crackdown reverberated around the world. The Chinese games market will generate an estimated $45.6 billion of revenue in 2021, ahead of the United States, according to analytics firm Newzoo. "They will just use their parents' logins, how can they control it?" asked one. Others expressed doubt that the restrictions could be enforced. ![]() "This is so fierce that I'm utterly speechless," said one comment that received over 700 likes. Some users expressed support for the measures while others said they were surprised at how drastic the rules were. The new rules swiftly became one of the most discussed topics on Weibo, China's answer to Twitter. Previously, China had limited the length of time under-18s could play video games to 1.5 hours on any day and three hours on holidays under 2019 rules. Gaming companies will be barred from providing services to minors in any form outside the stipulated hours and must ensure they have put real-name verification systems in place, said the regulator, which oversees the country's video games market. "Protecting the physical and mental health of minors is related to the people's vital interests, and relates to the cultivation of the younger generation in the era of national rejuvenation." "Teenagers are the future of our motherland," Xinhua quoted an unnamed NPPA spokesperson as saying. The campaign to prevent what state media has described as the "savage growth" of some companies has wiped tens of billions of dollars off shares traded at home and abroad. The rules from the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) regulator coincide with a broader clampdown by Beijing against China's tech giants, such as Alibaba Group (9988.HK) and Tencent Holdings (0700.HK).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |