Hong Kong: China’s largest gaming company Tencent Holdings has announced to limit gaming time for minors and ban children under the age of 12 from making in-game purchases.
The announcement came after the company’s stock plunged up to 11 per cent following a criticism published by the Economic Information Daily, a newspaper affiliated with China’s official Xinhua News Agency, reported the Associated Press.
Reading: Pakistan angry over ‘bold’ photo shoot of this band near Quaid-e-Azam memorial, photos viral
The newspaper article named Tencent’s hugely popular ‘Honor of Kings’ game, which minors were addicted to.
The article also quoted a student as saying that some people play the game for eight hours a day.
“The ‘spiritual opium’ has grown into an industry worth hundreds of billions,” the newspaper said, adding that no industry should be allowed to develop in a way that “destroys a generation.”
The article was taken down online hours later.
Earlier on Tuesday, Tencent issued a statement saying it would limit gaming time for minors to one hour a day and two hours a day during holidays.
The company said that children under the age of 12 will also be prohibited from making purchases within the game.
Tencent also called on the industry to discuss the possibility of regulating gaming time for minors and banning people under the age of 12 from playing games.
read also: Pak PM Imran Khan’s residence will be available on rent as the country is facing economic crisis
According to Chinese law, users under the age of 18 can play online games for a maximum of one and a half hours a day and three hours during holidays.
.