Game over for "Fortnite" in China.

The new darling of video games, which brings together millions of online followers across the planet, will withdraw from the most populous country in the world, announced its publisher Epic Games, Sunday, October 31.

Other industry giants could follow: the communist power, which is particularly picky about competition and personal data issues, has pinned down several heavyweights of the digital world, for practices hitherto widely tolerated. 

Closed on November 15 at 11 a.m.

That of video games, which represent a significant financial windfall in China, but are criticized for their addictive dimension among young people, has not been spared.

In August, the authorities imposed a drastic limit of three hours of video games per week for those under 18, while some could spend days glued to their screens.

In this context, the American publisher of "Fortnite" will permanently shut down the Chinese version of the game. "On November 15 at 11 am, we will shut down the game's servers and players [in China] will no longer be able to connect," he said. wrote Epic Games on Sunday in a statement.

Already since Monday, the game no longer accepts new players in China, specifies the company, which counts among its shareholders the Chinese Internet giant Tencent.

"Fortnite" is one of the most popular games in the world, with over 350 million users, more than the entire American population.

"Fortnite", video game star 

Launched in 2017, "Fortnite" is a so-called "battle royale" game, where participants seek to be the last to survive.

The game has a specific version in China where violent, obscene or politically sensitive content is strictly regulated.

While downloading "Fortnite" is free, it generates billions in revenue with the purchase by players of additional content, such as outfits and dance moves, for their characters.

Gambling has quickly become a worldwide phenomenon, to the point that certain games are now watched live by millions of spectators. 

With this audience, the game has been enriched in recent months by the collaboration of celebrities who appear occasionally in the game in the form of avatars.

Among them, the American singer Ariana Grande, who had performed some of her songs for a weekend this summer.

Before the pop star, Epic Games had already launched events with American rapper Travis Scott and Brazilian soccer star Neymar.

Citing a "difficult environment", the professional social network LinkedIn of Microsoft also announced last month its next withdrawal from China.

With AFP

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