Hong Kong’s national security police have taken aim at a Taiwanese video game, "Reversed Front: Bonfire," which they claim incites “armed revolution.” In a warning issued on Tuesday, officials advised against downloading the game, suggesting that those who choose to ignore this directive could face significant legal repercussions. This crackdown is part of a broader effort to regulate online content deemed a threat to Hong Kong’s stability.
"Reversed Front: Bonfire," a war strategy game released by a Taiwanese collective, allows players to adopt various roles such as “propagandists, patrons, spies, or guerrillas” from regions including Taiwan, Mongolia, and parts of China like Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet, in virtual scenarios aimed at challenging the Communist Party of China. The game provides users with the opportunity to either take on rebel or government roles during these simulated conflicts.
The app faced additional hurdles even prior to the government’s action: it was already inaccessible to mainland Chinese gamers and was removed from Google's app store earlier in June for allegedly containing hateful content.
Developed by the ESC Taiwan group—an assembly of anonymous volunteers dedicated to opposing the Chinese Communist Party—the game reflects the increasing pressures of political censorship that are now dominant in Hong Kong, resembling the restrictions seen in mainland China. The creators have articulated that the game's removal signifies serious concerns over freedom of expression in the region, asserting that its purpose is to highlight and combat authoritarian censorship.
"Reversed Front: Bonfire," a war strategy game released by a Taiwanese collective, allows players to adopt various roles such as “propagandists, patrons, spies, or guerrillas” from regions including Taiwan, Mongolia, and parts of China like Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet, in virtual scenarios aimed at challenging the Communist Party of China. The game provides users with the opportunity to either take on rebel or government roles during these simulated conflicts.
The app faced additional hurdles even prior to the government’s action: it was already inaccessible to mainland Chinese gamers and was removed from Google's app store earlier in June for allegedly containing hateful content.
Developed by the ESC Taiwan group—an assembly of anonymous volunteers dedicated to opposing the Chinese Communist Party—the game reflects the increasing pressures of political censorship that are now dominant in Hong Kong, resembling the restrictions seen in mainland China. The creators have articulated that the game's removal signifies serious concerns over freedom of expression in the region, asserting that its purpose is to highlight and combat authoritarian censorship.
