Coronavirus: China removes 'illegal' pandemic game from app store after downloads surge amid outbreak
Popular mobile game Plague Inc. has been banned in China after the coronavirus outbreak caused a rush of digital downloads.
In Plague Inc. players have to create and evolve a deadly pathogen with the aim of wiping out the entire human race.
The Cyberspace Administration of China has deemed the game to be “illegal”, prompting its removal from the Chinese app store.
The game’s producers, UK-based independent studio Ndemic Creations, posted a statement on their website, saying the situation was “out of [their] control.”
“Plague Inc. stands out as an intelligent and sophisticated simulation that encourages players to think and learn more about serious public health issues”, they wrote.
“We have a huge amount of respect for our Chinese players and are devastated that they are no longer able to access and play Plague Inc.”
The coronavirus has now killed more than 2,800 people around the world and more than 82,000 people have been infected.
Plague Inc. has over 130 million players, and is the number one strategy and simulation game worldwide. It has been praised in the past for its value as an educational tool.
