HiTechEdge

Tag: video games

  • Kids in China Limited to Three Hours of Gaming a Week

    Kids in China Limited to Three Hours of Gaming a Week

    China is continuing its crackdown on video games, limiting minors to three hours of gaming per week.

    China has a contentious relationship with its technology companies. On the one hand, the country encourages its tech companies to achieve dominance — even looking the other way when they engage in blatant IP theft — but on the other hand, it doesn’t approve of the impact technology has on its own citizens, especially video games.

    According to state media outlet Xinhua, via ZDNet, China will only allow minors to play from 8pm to 9pm, Friday through Sunday, as well as on holidays.

    As part of the ban, National Press and Publication Administration (NAAP) also called on companies to implement real-name registration to help keep users under 18 from playing more than the allowed time.

  • Netflix Confirms It Will Offer Mobile Games, Ad-Free and No Extra Cost

    Netflix Confirms It Will Offer Mobile Games, Ad-Free and No Extra Cost

    Netflix has confirmed the rumors, announcing it will offer mobile games at no extra cost and ad-free.

    Netflix has been rumored to be preparing to enter the video game market, even going so far as to hire Mike Verdu — formerly of Electronic Arts and Facebook’s Oculus team — as Vice President of Game Development.

    According to CNET, the company has now confirmed its plans at its second-quarter earnings calls.

    “There’s a rich opportunity to continue to deliver and advance the technical capability to improve the quality of game experiences we can deliver across the range of devices,” said Greg Peters, Netflix’s chief operating and product officer.

    Netflix entering the video game market could be a game-changer for the company and help drive subscription growth. Especially with plans to offer the service at no extra cost, consumers who have complained about Netflix’s price hikes may suddenly see the company’s offering as an entertainment-based value proposition.

  • Netflix Hires Former EA Exec Mike Verdu to Lead Gaming Venture

    Netflix Hires Former EA Exec Mike Verdu to Lead Gaming Venture

    Netflix is looking to expand beyond TV and movies, hiring former Electronic Arts executive Mike Verdu to lead its video gaming endeavor.

    Streaming platforms are increasingly looking for ways to expand their offerings and increase customer engagement. fuboTV is preparing to offer sports betting and Netflix is looking to expand into video gaming. 

    To help it break into the highly competitive market, Netflix is hiring Mike Verdu as Vice President of Game Development, according to Bloomberg. In addition to EA, Verdu also worked as a vice president at Facebook, helping developers bring their gams to the company’s Oculus VR system.

    Verdu should bring valuable insights and expertise to Netflix, giving it a major leg up in its efforts to break into the market.

  • Tencent Will Use Facial Recognition to Stop Minors From Playing Video Games at Night

    Tencent Will Use Facial Recognition to Stop Minors From Playing Video Games at Night

    Tencent, the Chinese video game juggernaut, has announced it will begin using facial recognition to prevent minors from playing video games at night.

    The Chinese government has increasingly come down on video games, with the goal of preventing minors from spending too much time gaming. The government passed a law in 2019 to restrict minors from playing video games at night, and limited the amount of time they can play to 90 minutes per day.

    Tencent has introduced a facial recognition feature called “Midnight Patrol,” designed to enforce the new regulations. According to Digital Trends, Tencent will integrate the feature in 60 of its games, including some of its most popular ones, such as Peace Elite and Glory of the King.

    Players who avoid the facial recognition tech will automatically be locked out.