CHINA is reviewing new games to ensure they meet stricter criteria for content and protection of children, Bloomberg News said Thursday.

The National Press and Publication Administration is re-evaluating titles submitted for approval by game developers from Tencent Holdings Ltd. to Netease Inc. to make sure they comply with fresh curbs imposed in August, the report said.

Last month, China forbade more than three hours of video games a week for those younger than 18, a stringent rule aimed at halting a growing addiction.

Late in August, the National Press and Publications Administration (NPPA) asked developers to resubmit titles in line with the new measures, the report said.

Regulators are cracking down on increasingly popular zombie-themed games that are considered “too scary” by NPPA standards, it added.

Scrutiny was also stepped up on subjects regulators consider undesirable, such as “boys’ love” themes that have recently become trendy, it said.

The criteria China will use for approving new titles became the subject of fierce dispute last week after regulators summoned the country’s biggest games companies to a discussion of new requirements, Xinhua reported.

(SD-Agencies)