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Esports trends in 2022 and beyond Gaming addiction and responsible gaming
GAMING ADDICTION AND RESPONSIBLE GAMING
Gaming addiction has been recognised as a mental illness , prompting China to impose significant limits on playing times
IT IS no secret that China is one of the most dominant esports and gaming markets in the world , with 664 million players and game revenues of $ 44bn in 2020 . Its esports market , the largest in the world , had an estimated audience size of around 160 million in 2020 .
Stocks in the country ’ s video games industry took a dive in late August 2021 , however . The country ’ s regulator for video games , the National Press and Publication Administration ( NPPA ) issued new rules restricting the amount of time minors could spend playing games to three hours per week .
The new rules are part of China ’ s broader effort to enforce social guidelines among young people . This also includes crackdowns on celebrities and influencers with “ incorrect political positions ”, the removal of “ effeminate ” male images in pop culture , and other crackdowns on the private education industry . This particular restriction placed on the gaming industry was aimed at battling gaming addiction . Gaming addiction , or gaming disorder has been a concern for the Chinese government since the early 2000s . State-run media recently labelled video gaming as “ spiritual opium ”.
In 2020 , a study by China ’ s Zhejiang University School of Medicine found that at least 17 % of Chinese adolescent gamers suffered from Internet Gaming Disorder . Traits include high neuroticism and low conscientiousness , alongside spending significant time and money on games .
But China has not been the only
Esports trends in 2022 and beyond