The role-playing game, The Revolution of Our Times I, was removed from Play Store in China and Hong Kong due to violating Google's "sensitive event" regulations (Image via ITmedia)

Following Apple, Google removes a role-playing app amid Hong Kong protest

On Thursday, Alphabet Inc’s Google removed a role-playing app from its Play Store in Hong Kong and China. The app was considered capitalizing conflict happening between Hong Kong and China; hence, violating Google’s regulations.

The app, “The Revolution of Our Times I” by Spinner of Yarns, allowed its players to be one of the Hong Kong protesters with a choice-based story format. The title of the app came from the slogan proposed by Hong Kong indigenous spokesman, Edward Leung, in 2016.

Within the same week, Google followed Apple which also removed two apps, “HKmap.live” from its App Store because the Hong Kong protesters and degenerates used the app to victimize Hong Kong residents and ambush the police, and news app “Quartz” because of its Hong Kong protests coverages.

The difference was Apple removed the app after complaints and backlashes from its customers and Chinese official state news agency, People’s Daily. Google removed the app because it violated the Play Store “sensitive events” regulations. Nonetheless, no complaint was ever heard.

While the game was free, Google noted that the game did “offer in-app purchase” options ranging from US$0.99 to US$14.99. Before being taken down, the role-playing app had been downloaded more than 1,000 times.

Spinner of Yarns stated that 80% profit from the game had been pledged to free the arrested protesters through Spark Alliance. However, three days after the launching, the developer got a notification from Google that the app had been shut down due to violating the Play Store regulations.

Some Hong Kong people judged Google as wanting to appease the Chinese government. However, some suggested Spinner of Yarns to remove in-app purchase options so Google may approve it once more.

Source: https://bit.ly/2MpSZXm