Beijing Pulls Out Plague Inc App Amidst Coronavirus Breakout
Chinese regulators removed the controversial Plague Inc from application stores in the country. The pandemic simulator or real-time strategizing game has caused a stir in the Chinese technology industry due to its concept.
The tension reflected and the sensitivity of the said game touches the massive problem faced by the Chinese government and people. In fact, it’s not just China, countries all over the globe are also facing the deadly COVID-19.
Ndemic Creations, the game developer behind the game took down the app from the Chinese Appstore yesterday. The Cyberspace Administration of China said that Plague Inc contains contents that are illegal in Chinese rules.
However, upon taking down, the referred illegal content wasn’t specified or mentioned by the Chinese regulators.
In an interview, James Vaughan, the creator of the game said that confusion occurred following this. Vaughan promised to provide more information once the situation settles.
The removal of the controversial game made headlines by major technology news sites and has gone viral.
An expert and analyst for video games said that the government may have taken down the game because of the news updates. Looking at it, the pandemic simulator has a feature where it publishes fake new updates of the virus.
That could perhaps cause disinformation and misinformation to spread during this unfortunate time for the country.
Simulation or Manipulation
CoronavirusCoronavirusAnother expert pointed out that the game has published a “fake news” update about the coronavirus on December 4. That is more than a month before the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the virus.
The app’s fake new update feature includes scenarios where players can create a disinformation story. This could then be used to deceive others using modern technology according to one critic.
An article even coined it as a modern tool that can deceive the world and make psychological tricks. Looking at the app, its tutorials mostly start the virus in China, where the coronavirus originated.
Plague Inc. has climbed the number one of the Chinese application stores last January.
Yesterday, after the Chinese regulators took down the game, its creators have boasted about its popularity. Plague Inc has been running for more than 8 years and it has more than 130 million players around the globe.
Following the outbreak of the deadly 2019 novel coronavirus, the game has been more popular than ever. Ndemic even acknowledges its Chinese players who are going through the devastating crisis.
