On December 23, NetEase Games released a statement on its official Weibo in response to the "Draft for Opinions on Further Strengthening the Management of Online Games" released by the National Press and Publication Administration yesterday. According to the statement, the draft is mainly to make up for the lack of relevant management measures after 2019, and will not have a substantial impact on the business of NetEase Games. At the same time, NetEase Games said that it will strictly abide by the relevant regulations of the state, actively implement anti-addiction measures, and protect the physical and mental health of minors.
It is understood that on December 22, the National Press and Publication Administration released the "Draft for Opinions on Further Strengthening the Management of Online Games", which put forward a series of new requirements for the content, operation, and supervision of online games. Among them, the most interesting thing is that the draft proposes that online gaming enterprises should reasonably set restrictions on game duration, payment amount, and other restrictions based on factors such as users' age, gender, occupation, and health status, and provide corresponding tips and services. In addition, the Consultation Paper also requires that online gaming enterprises should strengthen the review of game content, prohibit the appearance of violence, pornography, gambling, terror and other negative content, prohibit the use of games for illegal activities, and prohibit the use of games for commercial publicity or promotion.
As one of the largest online game developers and operators in China, NetEase Games owns many well-known game products such as "Fantasy Journey to the West", "Onmyoji", "The Day After Tomorrow" and "The Fifth Personality", and its business involves multiple platforms such as PC, mobile, terminal games, and web games. In the face of soliciting opinions on the new regulations on the management of online games, NetEase Games said that the draft does not make major adjustments to the basic definition, classification, and approval of online games, but further regulates and improves the content, operation, and supervision of online games on the basis of the lack of relevant management measures after 2019. Therefore, the draft will not have a material impact on NetEase Games' business.
NetEase Games also said that as an online game company with a sense of social responsibility, NetEase Games has been actively responding to relevant national policies and taking various measures to prevent minors from overusing or indulging in online games and protecting their physical and mental health. For example, as early as 2017, NetEase Games took the lead in launching the "Health System", which strictly limited the game time and payment amount of minors, and provided functions such as parental monitoring and anti-addiction reminders. In addition, NetEase Games also carries out public welfare activities such as the "Sunshine Project" to guide minors to develop good gaming habits, improve network literacy, and enjoy a healthy gaming life.
NetEase Games said that it will continue to pay attention to the latest developments of the National Press and Publication Administration, adjust and improve its own online game management measures in a timely manner, and work together with the state, society, families, schools and other parties to create a green, healthy and beneficial online game environment for minors.
NetEase Games responds to the new rules