Plague Inc, the popular simulation game where the goal is to infect everyone in the world with a deadly virus, has been removed from the iOS app store in China.
The Cyber Administration of China says the game included illegal content. No other specifics.
ndemiccreations.com/en/news/173-st…
The Cyber Administration of China says the game included illegal content. No other specifics.
ndemiccreations.com/en/news/173-st…
The game originally released about 8 years and was #1 on the iOS App Store in 2014.
Since COVID-19 the game has been topping the paid iOS game charts in China and around the world.
See tweet below for more info.
Since COVID-19 the game has been topping the paid iOS game charts in China and around the world.
See tweet below for more info.
Speculation for why it could have been removed.
1. The game was never actually licensed to launch in China. It launched prior to that law coming into place.
2. The virus always starts in China no matter what. Might be an issue?
3. Might mislead people looking for advice?
1. The game was never actually licensed to launch in China. It launched prior to that law coming into place.
2. The virus always starts in China no matter what. Might be an issue?
3. Might mislead people looking for advice?
Number 3 could be the most likely reason as the game recently released a 'fake news' update in the iOS version that allows people to create misinformation.
But again, that's just speculation and the CAC hasn't released an official reason just yet.
But again, that's just speculation and the CAC hasn't released an official reason just yet.
Plague Inc seems to be the only 'virus/plague' related game that has been taken down so far.
All other games in this genre are still up, including games developed by Chinese companies and supported by the Chinese government.
All other games in this genre are still up, including games developed by Chinese companies and supported by the Chinese government.
The game was operating fine before the 'fake news' update (even though it wasn't officially licensed to be distributed in China).
China does ban fake news in video games, especially sensitive info around govt/officials.
See extract below from policy document we wrote-
China does ban fake news in video games, especially sensitive info around govt/officials.
See extract below from policy document we wrote-
That's an interesting point.
I wonder if the update yesterday added anything that caused China to take it down today.
I wonder if the update yesterday added anything that caused China to take it down today.
