The Chinese government plans to impose restrictions on spending time and money on online computer games. The draft rules released by the National Press and Publications Administration (NPPA) stipulate that online game publishers will impose limits on users' in-game purchases, daily logins and time spent in-game. The restrictions are said to be aimed at controlling "irrational spending behaviour". It also emphasizes that game content that "endangers national security" and "damages national reputation and interests" will be banned.
Shares of Tencent and NetEase, major players in China's online gaming market, fell after the bill was announced.
In the country, which is the world's largest online gaming market with 668 million online users, restrictions on in-game spending are predicted to reduce revenues for publishers and developer companies.
Under China's 2021 regulation, online gaming time for under-18s was limited to 1 hour per day on Fridays, weekends and holidays. On the other hand, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) this year announced regulations restricting access to mobile internet applications for those under 18 years of age.
