Tencent tightens user ID checks on its popular game

BEIJING - China's internet giant Tencent implemented a real-name identification system (RNIS) for users of its popular mobile game "Honor of Kings", further tightening restrictions on underage players.

The company introduced the RNIS in September which asks new game users to provide their identification details to be checked against a police database.

The new move expands the application to all current game users in Beijing starting Thursday and will be applied to users across the country in the future, according to a company statement.

Accounts that fail to complete the ID checks will be banned from logging into the game, said the statement.

Tencent's ID system will allow the company to check if the player is underage and should be included in its "anti-obsession" system, which limits minors to one or two hours of playtime in the online multiplayer battle game.

Tencent said a minor can use their ID information to apply for only one game account on its Wechat and QQ platform, preventing them from circumventing the anti-obsession system by applying for multiple accounts.

The company plans to use the RNIS for more games in the future, according to the statement.