Hong Kong authorities have cautioned individuals against downloading a mobile game developed in Taiwan, claiming the game is “secessionist” and could potentially lead to legal consequences. The game, “Reversed Front: Bonfire,” allows players to pledge allegiance to various groups linked to regions that have been the focus of China’s scrutiny, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and Manchuria, with the aim of “overthrowing the communist regime.”
While the game’s storyline and associated worldview are largely fictional, the game asserts that its portrayal of agencies, policies, and ethnic groups within China is intentional and not coincidental. Players have the option to either lead the communists to defeat enemies or oppose them, leading to reactions from authorities aligned with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
On Tuesday, Hong Kong police labeled “Reversed Front” as promoting armed revolution and supporting Taiwanese and Hong Kong independence under the guise of a game. Downloading or recommending the game could result in charges of possessing seditious material or incitement to secession. In-app purchases could be seen as funding the developers for the “commission of secession or subversion.”
According to the game’s storyline, communists have formed a mega-state after conquering surrounding lands with brutal force, leading to many of these conquered peoples seeking refuge. Taiwan remains the only region still standing, “fending off the persistent aggravation.” The game encourages players to consider whether Taiwan can maintain its safety by avoiding provocative actions or by learning from past mistakes that allowed the communists to grow stronger.
Players are presented with a negative portrayal of communists as heavy-handed, corrupt, and exploitative. The game developers, ESC Taiwan, acknowledged the increased attention and recommended users change their Apple ID region settings to successfully download the game, which had topped the Hong Kong App Store’s downloads before being removed.
This police warning forms part of the ongoing crackdown on pro-democracy opposition in Hong Kong, where CCP control has been tightening. Critics accuse authorities of using the national security law, imposed by Beijing in 2020, to suppress dissenting voices, targeting a wide range of individuals and entities including activists, politicians, labor unions, journalists, and even children’s books and bookshops.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/jun/11/hong-kong-police-taiwan-mobile-games-reversed-front
