Is China banning online gaming?

BEIJING/HONG KONG, April 15 (Reuters) - China said on Friday the livestreaming of unauthorised video games was banned, signalling stricter enforcement of rules as part of its broad crackdown on the gaming industry aimed at purging content the government does not approve of.

Are online games banned in China?

China's crackdown on games

The country allows minors to play video games only on public holidays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 8 pm to 9 pm. Meaning, a maximum of 3 to 4 hours of gaming per week. Gamers are also required to use their original names and government-issued identification cards for online gaming.

Is China still banning video games?

That said, some regulatory restrictions imposed by Beijing are here to stay. 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.

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.

Did China suspend approval for new online games?

China suspended approvals for new games in July 2021, giving no reason or official acknowledgment of the decision. Chinese regulators resumed monthly gaming approvals in April after an eight-month freeze that dealt a blow to developers.

Why and how China is limiting online gaming for minors

Why is China limiting gaming?

The National Press and Publication Administration claims the video game ban intends to protect children's mental and physical health. The Chinese government have been concerned about eye problems among young gamers for a while now.

Why is China limiting online gaming?

For years, Chinese authorities have sought to control how much time kids can spend playing games online, to fight “internet addiction.” They've claimed success in curbing the problem but are taking no chances.

Is Xbox banned in China?

Home gaming consoles were banned in mainland China from June 2000 until 2013. When the ban was lifted, eighth-generation consoles such as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were allowed in the country.

How many hours of gaming is banned in China?

The latest restrictions, announced at the end of August, limit gamers under the age of 18 to playing only between the hours of 8pm and 9pm on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays. This change was an update to a 2019 rule that limited minors to 90 hours of gameplay per day and three hours on holidays.

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.

What game consoles are banned in China?

GUANGZHOU, China — For 14 years, gaming consoles from the likes of Sony , Microsoft and Nintendo were banned in China. The ban was finally lifted in 2014.

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.

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.

When did China start censoring the Internet?

In September 2000, State Council Order No. 292 created the first set of content restrictions for Internet content providers. China-based websites cannot link to overseas news websites or distribute news from overseas media without separate approval.

Why does China only allow 3 hours of gaming?

In China, Kids Are Limited To Playing Video Games For Only 3 Hours Per Week. In an effort to curb video game addiction among children, Chinese authorities are tightening the reins on just how much that online gaming companies are allowed to offer young users.

How long can I play video games in China?

China's strict limits on how long minors can play online video games just got stricter. Chinese children and teenagers are barred from online gaming on school days, and limited to one hour a day on weekend and holiday evenings, under government rules issued Monday.

What are China's gaming rules?

To that end, to play a game officially in China: Players must fill in real-name identification to play games under the current regulation; In 2021, regulators in China limited minors' play time to only three hours per week; Minors are banned from watching live streams after 10 pm and tipping streamers.

Is Apple ban in China?

Of course, Apple is not going to stop making or selling iPhones in China-- one of its largest markets. But Apple may not want any legal troubles right before the launch of the new iPhone 13 series.

Is China banned from steam?

It's not entirely banned as the website is, but connections are slow and unstable, with Steam frequently being unable to connect. Fortunately for Chinese gamers, there's currently a convenient solution: games speed boosters.

Is Google allowed in China?

Google Search is partially blocked in China. Requests from the mainland to Google Search, including Google.com and Google.cn, are automatically redirected to Google.com.hk, the company's Hong Kong servers. Depending on what you search for on the Hong Kong version, the results may or may not be censored while in China.

Is cheating in online 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.

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.

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.

Does China allow esports?

China is one of the earliest adopters of esports on an official, government level. China's General Administration of Sports recognized esports as an official sport category in 2003.