Are video games illegal in China?

Mainland China. A very large number of video games are banned in mainland China. Games that depict drugs, sexuality, blood, organized crime or defamation of the Chinese government are almost always banned.

Is video gaming illegal in China?

Most notably, in September 2021, China banned under-18s from playing games for more than three hours a week, a rule that has forced Tencent and its peers to give up targeting youth gamers.

Is gaming banned in China for under 18?

How is China enforcing the video game ban?

The government's screen time rules

To comply with the mandate, Chinese gaming companies implemented new policies such as requiring players to register and log in with their real names and identities, which allows the platforms to limit gaming time according to age.

Is Fortnite banned in China?

Read more below. Epic Games has pulled the plug on Fortnite in China, the world's largest video gaming market. The move comes following China's ongoing crackdown against online video games that the authorities reportedly consider a waste of time and a bad influence for young kids.

China Restricts Video Games to 3 Hours Per Week

Why is China strict about gaming?

A state-run newspaper had just equated online gaming with “opium,” likely striking a chord in the psyche of a country targeted by Western powers during the 19^th century "Opium Wars" (remnants of that era of “national shame” are carefully preserved for tourists and schoolchildren).

Does China allow blood in games?

The display of blood in Chinese game industry is strictly limited, if not banned. Before 2019, blood in many games cannot be red. And in 2019, a new ban prohibits even the presence of any blood. Peacekeeper Elite, a battle royale game developed in China, has no blood or death.

Does China limit screen time?

Under a Chinese law introduced last August, children under the age of 18 are only allowed one hour to play video games from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. They can also play for one hour during national holidays.

Is Roblox allowed in China?

The Chinese government strictly controls the internet and blocks access to many foreign websites, including Facebook, Google, and YouTube, and unfortunately, video games like Roblox.

Is there a 1 hour gaming limit in China?

In 2019, authorities restricted minors to playing 90 minutes a day on weekdays and banned them from playing between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. In 2021, they issued even harsher restrictions: Minors are allowed to play online games for only an hour a day and only on Fridays, weekends and public holidays.

How long can Chinese kids play video games?

The restrictions limit children to just three hours of online game playing a week. That is one hour between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday most weeks. Li Zhanguo has two children ages 4 and 8. Even though they do not have smart phones, they enjoy playing online games.

Can you play Call of Duty in China?

Distributed by Tencent Games, the game was originally launched in a beta version in 2012 before officially launching exclusively for China in 2015.

Is TikTok banned in China?

TikTok is fighting to stay alive in the United States as pressure builds in Washington to ban the app if its Chinese owners don't sell the company. But the wildly popular platform, developed with homegrown Chinese technology, isn't accessible in China.

Is discord blocked in China?

Are you wondering if Discord works in China? Unfortunately for regular users, this hugely popular communication app is banned by China's Great Firewall. Not all hope is lost though, as a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help you access Discord while traveling in China.

Are VPNs legal in China?

Are VPNs legal in China? Yes, using a VPN is still legal in China. Despite many VPNs being blocked in China there is no official ban on using VPNs.

What is the 3 hour rule in China?

The regulations restricted playing online video games to 8-9pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday and legal holidays, for a total of 3 hours per week only in that time slot, for all youth under age 18. Niko Partners recognized the immense importance of this “3-hour rule” and built data and analysis around the impact of it.

What is the 1 hour rule in China?

In 2019, authorities restricted minors to playing 90 minutes a day on weekdays and banned them from playing between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. In 2021, they issued even harsher restrictions: Minors are allowed to play online games for only an hour a day and only on Fridays, weekends and public holidays.

Does China check your phone?

Chinese police conducted random stop-and-search checks on phones, per WSJ and CNBC.

What content is not allowed in China?

The PRC bans certain content regarding independence movements in Tibet and Taiwan, the religious movement Falun Gong, democracy, the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, Maoism, corruption, police brutality, anarchism, gossip, disparity of wealth, and food safety scandals.

What game is censored in China?

Censorship of video games in China often relate to unfavorable views of war, history, and the government. Several video games have been banned in China for these reasons. In 2004, Hearts of Iron was banned as the Ministry of Culture deemed the games portrayal of World War II to be distorted.

Is cheating in games illegal in China?

In recent years, countries including South Korea and China have criminalized the sale or use of cheats in video games. In South Korea, cheaters could be punished with up to 5 years in jail or fines exceeding $40,000.

Can adults in China play video games?

Adults have no restrictions on their gaming, so they can sell their unused accounts for a few hours' worth of game time. This obviously has a few problems as it's both illegal and against most game's terms of service, where account swapping is generally frowned upon.

Is there a 2 hour gaming limit in China?

China plans to limit kids' video game play time to just three hours a week. Under 2019 rules, people under were allowed to play games for 1½ hours a day on most days. The rules will apply to companies providing online game services to minors, limiting their ability to serve those users outside of designated hours.

Do Chinese kids play video games?

Chinese state media reported that about 63 percent of Chinese minors play online games often. And about 13 percent of underage mobile game users are believed to play them for more than two hours a day on weekdays.

Is YouTube banned in China?

China. YouTube was first blocked in China for over five months from October 16, 2007 to March 22, 2008. It was blocked again from March 24, 2009, although a Foreign Ministry spokesperson would neither confirm nor deny whether YouTube had been blocked. Since then, YouTube has been inaccessible from mainland China.