The government of Hong Kong has intensified its control over online content, targeting gamers as it effectively bans the Taiwanese video game “Reversed Front: Bonfire,” which it accuses of advocating armed rebellion. The national security police have issued a warning against downloading or promoting the game, threatening legal action against violators.
“Reversed Front: Bonfire” is a colorful online war strategy game from Taiwan where players assume roles as "propagandists, patrons, spies, or guerrillas" from regions voiced against Chinese governance, including Taiwan, Mongolia, and the territories of Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet. Participating in simulated battles, players enact strategies that challenge the authority of China’s ruling Communist Party or alternatively fight on its side.
Following the government's directive, the game was pulled from Apple’s app store in Hong Kong on Wednesday, although it remains accessible in other regions. It has been out of reach for mainland Chinese gamers since it was never available there. Prior to this development, Google removed “Reversed Front” from its app store due to concerns over "hateful language," according to the game's developers.
The developers, known as ESC Taiwan, consist of anonymous volunteers who oppose the Communist Party of China. Their initiatives, including a board game launched in 2020, are financed through crowdfunding. They emphasized that the game's removal epitomizes the political censorship creeping into Hong Kong, mirroring the strict regulations enforced on mobile applications in mainland China. In a statement, ESC Taiwan conveyed that their game seeks to expose and critique such censorship practices through its narrative.
“Reversed Front: Bonfire” is a colorful online war strategy game from Taiwan where players assume roles as "propagandists, patrons, spies, or guerrillas" from regions voiced against Chinese governance, including Taiwan, Mongolia, and the territories of Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet. Participating in simulated battles, players enact strategies that challenge the authority of China’s ruling Communist Party or alternatively fight on its side.
Following the government's directive, the game was pulled from Apple’s app store in Hong Kong on Wednesday, although it remains accessible in other regions. It has been out of reach for mainland Chinese gamers since it was never available there. Prior to this development, Google removed “Reversed Front” from its app store due to concerns over "hateful language," according to the game's developers.
The developers, known as ESC Taiwan, consist of anonymous volunteers who oppose the Communist Party of China. Their initiatives, including a board game launched in 2020, are financed through crowdfunding. They emphasized that the game's removal epitomizes the political censorship creeping into Hong Kong, mirroring the strict regulations enforced on mobile applications in mainland China. In a statement, ESC Taiwan conveyed that their game seeks to expose and critique such censorship practices through its narrative.
