Major Chinese game companies signed a statement saying that they will jointly work to implement the spirit of the Central Propaganda Department’s notice on a rule to restrict online game playtime. 213 game companies, including Tencent Holdings Ltd. and NetEase Inc., agreed on the convention after the government’s limitation on online games playtime. Though the signed statement is not legally binding, it is a step taken solely by the companies.
Last August, the government of China set new rules for people under 18 years of age to limit the online gaming playtime for just an hour a day(8 pm to 9 pm) on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays. The rule took effect from the first day of September. Later, on September 8, Chinese authorities including CPC, NPPA, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism summoned the leading companies for talks, as reported by the state-regulated media outlets.
The process contains a lot of things to control playtime
Not only the process will be within the game’s application only, but the companies agreed to follow the self-made pact in the development, production, sales, operation, promotion, and publicity of game products as well. To keep things clearer, they’ll show the mandate on respective places, such as their websites and game interfaces.
To enhance the accuracy of limiting playtime, the companies will implement real-name authentication (face recognition and other means) to accurately identify users. The process will be the same for downloading and purchasing any game.
Anti-Addiction Self-Regulation Convention: What does it say
The convention by the China Game Publishers Association Publications Committee (GPC) has six rules in it directing the companies to work accordingly. The rules are not only for any particular platform but apply to single-player and console games. The systems will include a prohibition on politically harmful, nihilistic, filthy and pornographic, bloody and horrible content.
It’s already very difficult to get the approval of a game in China by any global franchise. With the new regulations, the government will get more authority over the creators. From the outside, it is looking like the companies made self-mandate to govern themselves, but it is well known how the Chinese government keeps everything in its sights. No surprise, game companies are the new additions on the list.
What are your thoughts on the self-mandate of Chinese game companies to restrict playtime? Drop your opinions in the comments!
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