Tencent Games Speed Booster App Updated to Block Foreign Games

Tencent Holdings stated it should shut down a service that allowed Chinese avid gamers to entry abroad platforms to play unapproved overseas video games, in an indication of tightening compliance as Chinese regulators extra intently scrutinize the business.

The nation’s largest social and gaming agency stated late on Wednesday it should on May 31 replace its video games velocity booster cell and desktop apps to new variations that will solely help video games working in China. The new variations will not enable customers to entry overseas video games.

Tencent first launched the apps in 2018. Such apps, which different corporations like NetEase additionally supply, act as community acceleration instruments that assist customers enhance their Internet speeds.

Unlike most international locations, avid gamers in China are solely allowed to play titles accredited by the federal government and aren’t allowed to play with foreigners on overseas servers. While such overseas video games aren’t explicitly blocked by on-line curbs, native Internet speeds are usually too gradual for avid gamers to entry them.

As such, many avid gamers in China used such apps in apply to entry unapproved overseas video games reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto or Nintendo’s smash-hit Animal Crossing. The apps additionally over time turned grey-area channels for overseas sport builders to achieve customers on the earth’s largest gaming market.

Tencent declined to supply additional touch upon why it had determined to make adjustments to the app.

The transfer was greeted by Chinese avid gamers with dismay but in addition many stated it was not stunning.

“This is expected given the direction things are going. It is harder to be a gamer in China by the day,” a Chinese Internet consumer wrote on microblogging web site Weibo.

The transfer comes days after China lifted a nine-month freeze on gaming licences. During this era gaming corporations together with Tencent made main changes to their enterprise practices to adjust to regulatory requests.

© Thomson Reuters 2022