Chinese Father Sues Tencent, NetEase, miHoYo Over Son's Overdose

A father in Henan province, China, has filed a lawsuit against four major gaming companies—Tencent, NetEase, miHoYo (HoYoverse) and 37 Interactive Entertainment—claiming their age‑verification and protection systems failed to prevent his son’s excessive gaming. The son, 18, was hospitalized after overdosing on 18 fever‑reducing tablets in May. The father alleges the boy’s extreme gaming habit—recorded 1,868 hours since March 2024, nightly sleep at 3‑4 a.m., and a 10 kg weight loss—contributed to the incident.

The lawsuit seeks a symbolic compensation of 10 yuan (about US$1.5) and calls for stricter, enforceable limits on minors’ online play, citing existing Chinese regulations that restrict under‑18 players to one hour on weekends and holidays. The case highlights ongoing concerns about game‑addiction prevention and regulatory loopholes in China’s rapidly growing gaming market.