Beijing (AFP)

Chinese internet giant Tencent announced on Wednesday that it would extend the limit of one hour of play per day for minors to all of its video games, in order to combat teenage addiction.

In full takeover by Beijing of the digital giants, the state press estimated at the beginning of August that video games had become "a mental opium" for young people.

And the sector had begun to fear a new regulatory tightening of the authorities.

The article particularly singled out Tencent and its popular video game "Honor of Kings", which has more than 100 million daily active users in China.

Under pressure, the group, which already imposed limits on playing time and facial recognition in China to prevent under-18s from playing at night, has toughened the rules even further.

Play time on "Honor of Kings" has since been limited to one hour per day for minors and two hours maximum during school holidays.

On Wednesday when publishing its quarterly results, the group announced that this measure would be extended "gradually" to all of its games.

The timing was not specified.

During the past quarter, video games once again represented for Tencent its biggest source of income (43 billion yuan or 5.6 billion euros), up 12% over one year.

In its earnings release, Tencent makes no reference to the tightening of regulations affecting the digital sector in China.

But over the April-June period, its net profit is down 11% compared to the first quarter, to 42.58 billion yuan.

However, it is up 29% over one year.

In recent months, several internet giants, including Tencent, have been singled out for previously tolerated and widespread practices relating to personal data, user rights and anti-competitive practices.

Passers-by in front of Tencent's headquarters in Shenzhen (southern China), May 26, 2021 NOEL CELIS AFP / Archives

The Chinese market regulator blocked in July in the name of competition the merger of the two largest online video game platforms in China, Huya and Douyu, in which Tencent is a shareholder.

A setback for the world number one, who hoped to take control of the new entity and establish its grip on the video game sector.

Huya and Douyu combined account for 80 to 90% of the market share, analysts said.

Tencent, also a major player in online music listening, was also forced to give up its exclusive rights to titles, again in the name of competition.

© 2021 AFP