(Corrects to say that China “slows down” approvals, not “suspended”, in title and paragraphs 1 and 2 after SCMP clarification. Also corrects paragraph 2 to say that China’s strategy emerged after a meeting and not during the meeting)
(Reuters) – China has temporarily slowed down approval of all new online games in a bid to reduce gambling addiction among young people, the South China Morning Post reported Thursday https://bit.ly/3hiH4ee citing people who know the issue.
The SCMP said the strategy to slow down approvals emerged after a meeting Wednesday between Chinese authorities and gaming companies, including Tencent Holdings Ltd and NetEase Inc.
Beijing had summoned game companies like Tencent and NetEase on Wednesday.
Tencent declined to comment. NetEase did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
China decided in August to ban people under 18 from playing video games for more than three hours a week, saying it was necessary to tackle a growing addiction to what it once called “spiritual opium. “.
China has waged a massive crackdown on a wide range of sectors, including technology, education and real estate, to strengthen government control after years of soaring growth.
(Report by Anirudh Saligrama in Bangalore, edited by Raissa Kasolowsky and John Stonestreet)
Copyright 2021 Thomson Reuters.
