HONG KONG — On Tuesday, Hong Kong police issued a statement denouncing a mobile game application, accusing it of promoting armed revolution and secessionist agendas. They warned that individuals who publish or share this app online might face charges under national security laws.
This declaration marks the first time authorities have targeted a gaming app publicly, signifying an expansion of their crackdown efforts following the anti-government protests that erupted in 2019. Since the enactment of the national security law by Beijing in 2020, and a similar local law the previous year, authorities have silenced or prosecuted numerous dissenters.
In its announcement, the police cautioned residents about downloading “Reversed Front: Bonfire,” suggesting that having the app could be interpreted as possessing material with seditious intent. Additionally, they advised against providing any financial aid to the app’s developer, including transactions within the app.
The police allege that “Reversed Front: Bonfire” masquerades as a game but actually aims to promote secessionist ideas such as ‘Taiwan independence’ and ‘Hong Kong independence,’ advocating for armed rebellion and the toppling of China’s governing system.
Developed by ESC Taiwan, the application’s creators have not yet commented on the accusations. The developer had addressed the increasing interest in the game and media coverage of the ongoing situation on social media platforms.
The game description reveals that players can engage as rebels from regions like Hong Kong, Tibet, Uyghur, Taiwan, or Cathaysia to challenge the communist regime. Alternatively, they can opt to lead the communist forces and achieve total victory.
On the game’s official website, it declares itself as nonfiction, noting that any resemblances to actual entities, policies, or ethnic groups within the PRC are deliberate.
Although the application was available on Apple’s App Store till Tuesday night, by Wednesday morning, it could no longer be accessed. Earlier, the game had been removed from Google Play due to non-compliance with platform policies on language use.
Major tech companies, including Apple, Google, and Meta, have not yet made statements regarding the situation.
A player from Taiwan, Kuo Hao Fu, who has engaged with the game for over three months, mentioned that it humorously addresses genuine political matters. He disagrees with the police’s claims, pointing out that the game also allows for choosing a pro-China stance.
He expressed concerns that the police actions illustrate how Hong Kong’s freedoms have fallen under Chinese Communist Party influence, threatening creative freedom in gaming.
China regards Taiwan as a territory that must eventually be brought under Beijing’s rule, potentially using force. This development has raised alarms among many in Taiwan, worried about the erosion of freedom in Hong Kong as Beijing’s influence grows.
Both Beijing and Hong Kong authorities argue that the city’s national security laws were crucial to restoring order following the unrest and protests.