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TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – International gaming platform GOG removed the Taiwanese horror game “Devotion” (還願) from its store on Wednesday (December 16) over a hidden in-game reference that mocks Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平).
Just hours after announcing that “Devotion,” which was first removed from the Steam video game distribution platform last year, would be sold on its website beginning December 18, GOG backtracked on the plan for boycott calls from Chinese players. In a Twitter post, GOG said it decided to quit the Taiwanese game “after receiving a lot of messages from players.”
Initially released on Steam in February 2019, “Devotion” took the online gaming community by storm with its haunting atmosphere that combines elements of Taiwanese folklore and an abandoned fictional apartment complex in Taiwan.
However, players discovered that a Taoist talisman in one part of the game had the words “Xi Jinping Winnie the Pooh” in an ancient style of Chinese writing, referencing an internet meme used to discredit Xi. Also on the talisman were the words “ni ma ba qi” (呢 嘛 叭 唭), the same pronunciation as “your mother is an idiot” in the Hokkien language, which is widely spoken in Taiwan.
The game’s controversial “Easter Egg” sparked an apology from Taiwanese developer Red Candle Games (赤 燭), who described the symbol as “a project management malfunction.” Although the company later provided an update to the game, the boycott calls continued in China until “Devotion” was removed from Steam after only six days on sale.
After GOG revealed its plan to bring back “Devotion” on Wednesday, thousands of Chinese netizens flooded the platform’s Twitter page and demanded that the game be removed. Meanwhile, Twitter users from other countries expressed their support for the Taiwanese game and urged the platform not to give in to Chinese pressure.
In a statement released following the removal of “Devotion,” Red Candle Games expressed regret at the news, but said it understood and respected GOG’s decision. He also apologized to players who were waiting for the game to relaunch, UDN reported.
Horror game “Devotion”. (Facebook photo, Red Candle Games)
Taoist talisman in devotion. (CNA photo)
Taoist talisman that reads “Xi Jinping Winnie the Pooh” in Chinese (Devotion screenshot)
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