Police in Hong Kong have warned citizens against downloading or sharing a mobile game that allows players to "overthrow the communist regime", saying that they could be punished under national security laws.
Authorities said that those who download the game Reversed Front: Bonfire "may be regarded as in possession of a publication that has a seditious intention".
Police have also warned people against providing funding to the developer of the mobile app.
"Reversed Front: Bonfire was released under the guise of a game with the aim of promoting secessionist agendas such as 'Taiwan independence' and 'Hong Kong independence,’ advocating armed revolution and the overthrow of the fundamental system of the People’s Republic of China," police said.
The warning, the first to denounce a video game, suggests that law enforcement is widening the crackdown that has followed anti-government protests in 2019.
Authorities have silenced many dissenting voices through prosecutions under the 2020 national security law imposed by Beijing and similar, homegrown legislation enacted last year.
The Beijing and Hong Kong governments insist the city's national security laws were necessary to return stability to the city following the protests.
Reversed Front: Bonfire was developed by ESC Taiwan, which has not directly commented on the police's warning. However, on the application's Facebook page, the developer posted about an increase in Google searches for the game's name and a Hong Kong broadcaster’s news report about Tuesday’s development.
According to the game's website, players can assume the role of Hong Kong, Tibet, Uyghur, Taiwan or Cathaysian Rebel factions, among others, to "overthrow the communist regime". They may also choose to lead the communists to defeat all enemies.
The website says the game "is a work of non-fiction. Any similarity to actual agencies, policies or ethnic groups of the PRC [People's Republic of China] in this game is intentional".
As of Wednesday, the game — which was released in April — could no longer be found on Apple's App Store from Hong Kong.
The developer last month said Google Play had taken the app down because it did not prohibit users from adopting hateful language in naming.
Apple, Google and Meta have not immediately commented.
