Authorities in Hong Kong warned on Tuesday that downloading or promoting a mobile game developed in Taiwan could lead to prosecution under the city's national security law, accusing it of advocating "armed revolution" and supporting secessionist ideologies hostile to Beijing.
The game, titled Reversed Front: Bonfire, was developed by a group calling itself ESC Taiwan and has drawn official condemnation for encouraging players to "pledge allegiance" to entities like Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, and Uyghurs in a fictional campaign to overthrow China's communist regime. Police said the app promotes "hatred towards central authorities and the Hong Kong government" and that users could be charged with incitement to subversion or secession.
In a statement, Hong Kong police said, "Anyone who downloads or uses the app, or makes in-app purchases in it, would be violating the city's national security law." Authorities further warned that sharing or recommending the game could also constitute an offense under the law.
The game's developers describe the title as "a work of NON-FICTION," adding in a disclaimer that "any similarity to actual agencies, policies or ethnic groups of the PRC in this game is INTENTIONAL." Within the gameplay, users can also choose to play on the side of the communists and defeat anti-regime factions, though Hong Kong officials dismissed this as disingenuous cover.
According to the game's website, the plot unfolds in a fictionalized world where communists have subjugated neighboring regions and established a "colonial power with unprecedented cruelty." Taiwan remains the last holdout, asking players whether it can survive without escalating tensions or must act decisively.
The warning forms part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong, where Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020. Critics say the law has since been used to dismantle political opposition, suppress independent media, and censor artistic expression. The legislation was further strengthened last year, increasing penalties for acts labeled insurrectionist.
The developers, identified as ESC Taiwan or Taiwan Overseas Strategic Communication Working Group, appeared to respond with defiance. On Instagram, they shared a screenshot of local television coverage of the police warning, using what appeared to be a tongue-in-cheek tone in reaction to the publicity.
By Wednesday, the game had reportedly topped the Hong Kong App Store downloads chart before being removed. "We encourage users to change the country or region of their Apple ID in order to successfully download the game," the developers wrote on Facebook.
Despite the publicity, Reversed Front appears to have a limited user base. Combined ratings on Apple and Google's app stores remained below 360 as of Wednesday. In contrast, mainstream titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and Block Blast! have amassed millions.
