Tencent’s ID check for games catches out TFBoys star Roy Wang Yuan before his 18th birthday

Wang (right) was busted by Tencent's minor detection systems for playing Honour of Kings on the eve of his 18th birthday.

Tencent Holdings’ ID check for gamers has been so effective that earlier this week Roy Wang Yuan, a member of China’s popular boy band TFBoys, said in a variety show that he was knocked off from the game after playing for two hours on the day before his 18th birthday.

Tencent, China’s biggest game publisher, said its mandatory identity check for gamers has led to a “noticeable reduction” in play time among minors, amid Beijing’s recent drive to crack down on excessive gaming to protect the well-being of the nation’s youth.