• Hong Kong bans the mobile game “Reversed Front: Bonfire” for promoting independence.
• Authorities warn that downloading the game could violate national security laws.
• The game allows players to “pledge allegiance” to various regions opposing the Communist regime.
• No arrests have been made, but users face severe penalties under new laws.
• The game gained attention post-ban, becoming a top search term in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong authorities have effectively banned the mobile game “Reversed Front: Bonfire,” removing it from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for promoting Hong Kong and Taiwan independence. Police warned that anyone who downloads or shares the app risks breaching national security laws, classifying it as a seditious publication, according to SCMP and BBC.

The game allows users to "pledge allegiance" to regions such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Tibet, aiming to "overthrow the Communist regime." This prompted police to express concerns over its content, stating that local residents or companies publishing or sharing the app may engage in actions termed as inciting secession and subversion under the national security law, as reported by NPR and New York Times.

Despite its controversial premise, which the creators label as "non-fiction," police have noted that promoting funding to the game’s developers could also be seen as a violation of national security laws. In a noted twist, the authorities' warnings may have inadvertently increased the game's visibility, making it a trending topic in online searches within Hong Kong, according to India Times and India Times.

Police have issued stern warnings to uninstalled users, effectively criminalizing not just possession, but any form of engagement with the game. This action falls in line with broader patterns of restricting freedom and civil rights in Hong Kong post-2019 protests, as highlighted in various reports from Bangkok Post and New York Times.