China: after game restrictions especially young players suffer

China: after game restrictions especially young players suffer

Beijing, 18.9.2020

China’s new gaming restrictions on young players will hinder the development of Esports in the country, experts say. Competing developers in the U.S., Europe and South Korea will have a significant advantage over Chinese companies.

China is the largest video game market in the world, with 720 million players and $44 billion in revenue by 2020. The country also has the highest number of professional gamers in the world, and some of its players train more than 70 hours a week.

It will be „impossible for younger players to maintain a high level,“ according to professional players and coaches.

In August, the Chinese government had limited online gaming for under-18s to 3 hours per week. Back in 2019, China limited online gaming time for minors to 1.5 hours per day. The new restrictions force all online gamers to connect with China’s anti-addiction program.