Hong Kong Bans Video Game Using National Security Laws (engadget.com)
- Reference: 0178010879
- News link: https://games.slashdot.org/story/25/06/11/203218/hong-kong-bans-video-game-using-national-security-laws
- Source link: https://www.engadget.com/gaming/hong-kong-bans-video-game-using-national-security-laws-124549944.html
> Reversed Front: Bonfire was developed by a group known as ESC Taiwan, who are outspoken critics of the China's Communist Party. The game disappeared from the Apple App Store in Hong Kong less than 24 hours after authorities issued the warning. Google already removed the game from the Play Store back in May, because players were using hate speech as part of their usernames. ESC Taiwan [2]told The New York Times that that the game's removal shows that apps like theirs are subject to censorship in mainland China. The group also thanked authorities for the free publicity [3]on Facebook , as the game experienced a [4]surge in Google searches .
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> The game uses anime-style illustrations and allows players to fight against China's Communist Party by taking on the role of "propagandists, patrons, spies or guerrillas" from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet, Mongolia and Xinjiang, which is home to ethnic minorities like the Uyghur. That said, they can also choose to play as government soldiers. In its warning, Hong Kong Police [5]said that anybody who shares or recommends the game on the internet may be committing several offenses, including "incitement to secession, "incitement to subversion" and "offenses in connection with seditious intention." Anybody who has downloaded the game will be considered in "possession of a publication that has a seditious intention," and anybody who provides financial assistance to it will be violating national security laws, as well. "Those who have downloaded the application should uninstall it immediately and must not attempt to defy the law," the authorities wrote.
[1] https://www.engadget.com/gaming/hong-kong-bans-video-game-using-national-security-laws-124549944.html
[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/world/asia/hong-kong-bans-taiwan-game.html
[3] https://www.facebook.com/ReversedFront/
[4] https://hongkongfp.com/2025/06/11/google-searches-for-secessionist-online-game-surge-in-hong-kong-after-national-security-warning/
[5] https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202506/10/P2025061000697.htm?fontSize=1
Which is stronger? (Score:2)
We will soon find out which is stronger: the CCP's censorship or the Streisand Effect.
Re: (Score:1)
Trick question! In America you're already being monitored anyway.
Re: (Score:3)
> If a game was released that supported terrorism in the US, and was on Apple stores, etc. How long would it take before you start getting monitored.
You seemed to have missed that [1]Counter-Strike [wikipedia.org] has been a thing for a little over 24 years.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Strike
won't hold up (Score:2)
Mainland China censorship laws certainly wouldn't be enforced in Hong Kong even after only a brief glance at the [1]Hong Kong Basic Law [basiclaw.gov.hk] right?
[1] https://www.basiclaw.gov.hk/en/basiclaw/chapter3.html#:~:text=Hong%20Kong%20residents%20shall%20have%20freedom%20of%20speech%2C%20of%20the%20press%20and%20of%20publication
Easter Eggs (Score:2)
I wonder if the game had any Easter Eggs, such as a random Winnie-the-Pooh appearance.