Chinese Publisher of Devotion’s Business License Revoked Over Presidential Insult

Devotion, the latest indie horror title from Taiwanese developer Red Candle Games, is by all accounts a solid experience. The only problem is no one can actually play the game at the moment. This is all because a piece of background art mocking current Chinese President Xi Jinping was discovered shortly after its release back in February, resulting in the game being pulled from Steam.

Since then, Red Candle has issued an apology and the game’s Chinese publisher Indievent has altogether severed its ties with the studio. However, it seems like the damage has already been done, with the Chinese government shutting down Indievent in a move that is likely to have repercussions for the entirety of the Asian video game market, especially in Taiwan.

Iain Garner, co-founder of Asia-focused publisher Another Indie, revealed the shut down notice document via Twitter that was shared with him by Chinese friends within the industry. While the mocking image in Devotion was not specifically mentioned as the reason for publisher Indievent’s shutdown, instead only mentioning “relevant laws” were broken, it is fairly obvious that this is the case based on what we know.

Garner went on to elaborate that this decision will likely have a lasting impact on the Taiwanese video game industry, in particular when it comes to funding. While some publishers and developers such as Red Candle are based in Taiwan and therefore not subject to the authority of the Chinese government, much of their funding tends to come from the mainland. In light of the recent actions in response to this perceived insult, it is possible that we might see the Taiwanese video game industry’s growth significantly slow and stagnate.

Besides lack of funding, we might also see the Chinese government outright ban the sale of games from Taiwan or impose even stricter regulations and censorship of content. It is not unreasonable to imagine that video games might even have to go through a state-sponsored certification process in the near future in order to ensure hidden propaganda such as what was found in Devotion doesn’t slip through the cracks in the future. Considering the size and potential revenue to be made in China, this situation is not good any way you slice it.

Stay tuned for more updates on this story and other relevant industry news here at Dead Entertainment.

About the Author

L.B. Lubomski

Lawrence "L.B." Lubomski is an avid horror movie fan, gamer, musician, historian, and aspiring author. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, L.B. was exposed to the works of local filmmaker and godfather of zombie cinema George A. Romero early on. He has since developed a particular fondness for Italian zombie/cannibal and slasher films. This passion for horror extends into other media, from survival horror video games such as Resident Evil to horror-inspired musical artists. In his spare time, L.B. pursues many interests including building his collection of vinyl records, action figures, and vintage video games as well as drumming in various local bands.

More Reading

Show Your "Devotion" to This Psychological Horror Game's Debut Trailer

Devotion tackles the themes of East Asian folklore and religious devoutness.

Weekly Horror News Round-Up November 7: The Walking Dead, Friday the 13th: The Game, Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Plus, Hulu pulls the plug on Castle Rock, the Resident Evil film reboot adds to its cast, Demon's Souls get a fancy character creator, and more.

Weekly Horror News Round-Up September 19: Resident Evil, Stranger Things, Demon's Souls

Plus, check out the full trailer for Scare Me, Blumhouse and Amazon pull back the curtain on 4 movies, Scream 5 gets another star, and more.

Review: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 Once Again Delivers Retro Castlevania-Style Goodness

Koji Igarashi and Inti Creates keep the past alive in this latest 8-bit delve into the Bloodstained world.