China Targets Tencent's Top Earner in Game Addiction Warning
- The People’s Daily singles out top-grosser Honour of Kings
- Tencent says it’s doing all it can to combat addiction
China Steps Up Online, Mobile Games Scrutiny
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China is stepping up its scrutiny of online and mobile games, as the leading government-owned newspaper blasted Tencent Holdings Ltd.’s top-grossing Honour of Kings for harming children in the pursuit of profit.
The People’s Daily criticized Tencent’s most profitable smartphone title in an editorial, citing it as an example of how addictive games spread “negative energy” and have even led to deaths. The harshly worded opinion piece came after China’s biggest messaging and games company declared curbs on playing time for the minors among the title’s estimated 100 million-plus monthly active users.