China is well-known for its strict and often controversial restrictions for its citizens, but a new law that’s passed might be the most divisive one yet.
The new law, which was passed earlier this week, means that those under the age of 18 will be restricted to just 90 minutes of video game time a day. Playing video games between the hours of 10pm and 8am is now also prohibited.

Under-18s will be able to play more than 90 minutes on weekends, but only up to a maximum of three hours a day. Signing up for online gaming accounts in any form have to use real names and identities must be proven with relevant identification.
Microtransactions and DLC have also been addressed by the new laws. Young gamers in China will have a limit of $28-$57 USD per month to spend on game add-ons, depending on how old they are.

More and more countries are working to combat the likes of video game addiction and overspending on microtransactions.
In the UK, the first clinic to treat video game addiction recently opened its doors. The NHS-run facility will be able to offer support for both children and adults, and will aim to help those aged between 12 and 25 years old [via Guardian]. General practitioners will be able to refer video game addicts to the facility starting this week, providing that their addictions have been deemed debilitating.

Meanwhile, countries like Belgium have banned the sale of loot boxes and the use of in-game microtransactions to try and curb excessive spending. It’s claimed that loot boxes are too similar to gambling, and should be subjected to the same strict regulations that the gambling industry adheres to.
Though video game addiction is something that needs addressing, China’s new laws may seem excessive to the rest of the world. I guess we’ll have to wait and see how effective they are…
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay