A father in China's Henan province has filed a lawsuit against four major gaming companies after alleging that his teenage son's gaming addiction contributed to a serious health incident in which the boy consumed 18 fever tablets.

The lawsuit targets 39 Interactive Entertainment.

Rather than seeking substantial financial compensation, the father has asked the court for a symbolic payment of 10 yuan, saying the case is aimed at strengthening protections for minors using online gaming platforms.

Health Scare Triggers Investigation

According to media reports, the 18-year-old student was hospitalised on May 23 after swallowing 18 fever tablets despite not having a fever. Doctors diagnosed him with drug poisoning, and timely medical treatment saved his life.

The family said the teenager has not explained why he consumed the medication.

Following the incident, his father began reviewing his son's digital activity and discovered what he described as years of excessive online gaming.

Gaming Records Raise Concerns

The father alleged that his son spent long hours playing mobile games, often staying awake until three or four in the morning during weekends.

According to gaming records reviewed by the family, the teenager had accumulated 1,868 hours of gameplay since March 2024, averaging more than two hours a day, with significantly longer sessions during holidays and weekends.

The father also claimed his son's health had deteriorated, alleging he lost around 10 kilograms over several months.

Account Allegedly Created Using Sister's Identity

The lawsuit further alleges that the teenager registered gaming accounts using his elder sister's identity card, allowing him to bypass China's restrictions on minors' gaming hours.

China enforces strict online gaming rules for players under 18, limiting access to one hour between 8 pm and 9 pm on Fridays, weekends and public holidays.

The father argued that despite gaming companies having technologies such as facial recognition, stronger identity verification measures should have prevented the misuse of another person's identification.

Companies Face Legal Challenge

The father has asked the court to direct gaming companies to strengthen their anti-addiction systems and prevent minors from accessing games using someone else's identity.

He has also sought a public hearing, saying the issue extends beyond his own family and concerns the safety of children across the country.

Hearing Deferred

The first court hearing was scheduled for July 6, but has been postponed after the companies challenged the court's jurisdiction.

According to reports, the firms argued that because their headquarters are located in different cities, the court must first determine which jurisdiction is authorised to hear the case before proceedings can continue.

The case has sparked widespread debate on Chinese social media, with many users calling for stronger safeguards against gaming addiction, while others argued that parental supervision also plays a crucial role in managing children's screen time.