
Gamers say they can cheat Tencent’s ID check system in games
Under pressure to limit game addiction, Tencent check players’ IDs against a police database
The world’s largest gaming company wants to make people spend less time playing its games.
But gamers are skeptical that the system will work -- and say they’ll continue to find ways around the system.
It started almost a year ago, when Tencent first asked players to provide their IDs before they could play their marquee title, Honor of Kings (known as Arena of Valor in the West).
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And if you wanted something that looked a little more legit, there were services that helped teenagers to register accounts under the name of an adult -- for a fee. They were said to cost between US$4 to US$10.

They said it's already been deployed in Beijing, and is on schedule to be rolled out to other provinces in the following year.
But Chinese netizens are skeptical as to how effective this new system will be.
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The reporter spoke with a merchant who refused to give away how he got these accounts, but assured reporter that they have no playtime limits. The only downside is that the buyer won’t be able to make in-game purchases.
Some gamers say facial recognition is vital for the company’s anti-addiction system.
The pressure is intensifying on Tencent to get it right. Just last month, the Ministry of Education attributed myopia among the country’s youth to video games, which caused a huge drop in Tencent’s share price.
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For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters, subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast, and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report. Also roam China Tech City, an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus.
