NetEase introduces a "curfew" in its games
The company will limit the time and duration of the gaming session for all underage users. The innovation will affect 15 leading NetEase projects and will operate exclusively in China.
NetEase also has its own MOBA
The new system, the launch of which is explained by the desire to fight gambling addiction, will work as follows:
- from 21.30 to 8.30 the ban on entry for all underage users;
- From Monday to Friday, all users under the age of 12 can play one hour a day and two hours on weekends;
- From Monday to Friday, all users from 13 to 18 years old can play two hours a day and three hours on weekends.
Registration in the games takes place by real name. Unregistered users are limited to a two-hour session in a maximum of three publisher games. They cannot make payments.
The system will start working this month. It will also apply to titles such as Fantasy Westward Journey, Westward Journey, Knives Out and Onmyoji.
NetEase is not the first company to implement such a thing. Earlier, Tencent announced the introduction of a similar system. Moreover, the latter even started using a police database to verify the identity of the players.
It is hardly possible to call the launch of such systems a voluntary step on the part of Chinese publishers. It can be compared to the cutting of a bitch on which you sit, because young people are traditionally the main gaming audience. However, companies are forced to take such measures. They should, if possible, avoid criticism from a party that is officially concerned about the health of the nation’s future.
How the introduced systems will affect the market, one can only guess. Obviously, from the point of view of audience activity, titles will lose. After that, you can expect a decrease in the activity of paying users who suddenly have fewer opponents in PvP titles. Whether the changes will be felt in absolute numbers — we will find out not earlier than in six months.
Also on the topic:
