Skip Header
Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

Gaming stocks tank as China restricts spending and time incentives

(Sharecast News) - Shares in global gaming developers tumbled on Friday after the government unveiled new proposals to restrict incentives used by companies to encourage in-game spending and more frequent gameplay. The National Press and Publication Administrations said it was setting spending limits, and banning the use of incentives for players logging in every day or spending several days gaming in a row.

The government had already set time limits on video games for minors in 2021 in response to fears about growing gaming addition, as well as temporarily pausing new game approvals for a limited time.

Shenzhen-based Tencent, the world's biggest video game developer, finished down over 12% in Hong Kong, having fallen as much as 16.8%, while rival Netease dropped 25%. In Europe, Netherlands-based investment firm Prosus, which owns a stake in Tencent, tumbled 17%, while France's Ubisoft was trading down 5%.

The draft proposals by the NPPA will be subject to public comment in late-January, but if implemented could damage player monetisation potential for global video-game makers in a lucrative market.

Share this article

Related Sharecast Articles

Oxford Biomedica confident as it moves away from vaccine era
(Sharecast News) - Cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) Oxford Biomedica reported stability in its core business on Monday, with a small increase in full-year core revenue for 2023, despite a 36% decrease in total revenue to £89.5m.
N Brown chairman Ron McMillan to retire
(Sharecast News) - N Brown said on Monday that chairman Ron McMillan will be retiring and stepping down from the board with effect from 30 April for personal reasons.
McCarthy out, Adshead in as Ultimate Products chair
(Sharecast News) - Ultimate Products, the parent of homeware brands including Salter and Beldray, announced a change in its leadership on Monday, with James 'Jim' McCarthy deciding to step down as non-executive chair from 31 July.
Supermarket Income REIT buys portfolio of Carrefour supermarkets for €75.3m
(Sharecast News) - Supermarket Income REIT said on Monday that it has bought a portfolio of Carrefour supermarkets in France through a sale and leaseback transaction for €75.3m.

Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Award-winning online share dealing

Search, compare and select from thousands of shares.

Expert insights into investing your money

Our team of experts explore the world of share dealing.