Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have ordered online game publishers to immediately correct inaccurate age ratings displayed on app stores, warning that companies which fail to comply could face suspension of game distribution and the revocation of their publishing approvals.

The directive, issued by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, applies to all providers of online games classified under Vietnam's G1, G2, G3 and G4 licensing categories operating in the city.

The department instructed companies to review and rectify any discrepancies in age classifications shown on digital distribution platforms. In particular, games officially approved for players aged 18 and above must not be displayed as suitable for younger audiences, such as 12+ or 13+, on app stores.

The move follows instructions from the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight of the online gaming sector and addressing violations that could negatively affect society, particularly children, school students and university students.

Under the directive, age ratings displayed to users must exactly match those approved by the competent authority in a game's official publishing decision for G1 titles or its notification confirmation for G2, G3 and G4 games, as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 38 of Decree No. 147/2024/ND-CP.

Publishers found displaying incorrect age classifications must make the necessary corrections within 15 days of receiving a request from regulators.

Failure to comply within the deadline could result in authorities ordering the game to stop being distributed and revoking its publishing approval or notification confirmation under Clause 3, Article 38 of Decree No. 147/2024/ND-CP.

Stricter controls for under-18 players

The department also instructed game companies to strengthen technical measures for managing underage players.

Publishers are required to implement systems capable of verifying player identities, monitoring playtime and enforcing legal limits for users under the age of 18.

Under current regulations, minors may play a maximum of 60 minutes per day for each individual game, with a total limit of 180 minutes per day across all games.

The measures are intended to minimize the potential impact of excessive gaming on the health and education of children and students.

The directive also reiterates Vietnam's existing prohibition on designing game features that allow players to buy or sell virtual items, virtual currencies or reward points for real-world value.

Publishers are likewise prohibited from allowing virtual items or in-game assets to be exchanged for cash, mobile phone top-up cards, bank cards or physical goods.

In addition, companies are required to review their game publishing and operational procedures to ensure full compliance with Vietnamese regulations governing online gaming services.

The department also reminded publishers to submit mandatory compliance reports every six months, as required by law.

Le My