Epidemic game Plague Inc. disappears from Apple’s App Store in China
The game has been popular since the coronavirus outbreak, but it went missing shortly after Apple announced it would remove unlicensed games in accordance with Chinese law
The smash-hit epidemic simulation game Plague Inc. has disappeared from the App Store in China after becoming a hit in the country since the start of the coronavirus outbreak.
The 8-year-old game had newfound popularity in China because of its premise: Players must engineer a super virus with the end goal of wiping out the human race. But now iPhone owners can no longer download or update the game on the iOS App Store in mainland China. Those who already own the game and try to update are presented with an alert that reads, “Plague Inc. is no longer available. Developers have removed the game app from the App Store.”
No more Plague Inc. for iOS users in China, even if they’ve already bought the app. (Picture: Sina/Weibo)
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No reason has been given for the removal. Apple and game developer Ndemic weren’t immediately available for comment. But another Ndemic game called Rebel Inc. is still available in China.
The move comes just after Apple said that it would enforce China’s strict gaming regulations, which require all games sold in the country to have a license. The regulations have been in place since 2016, but Apple seems to have enjoyed relaxed enforcement until this week. In a notice Apple sent out earlier this week, the company requests that developers of games with in-app purchases submit their licenses by the end of June. Ndemic doesn't currently have a license to distribute and monetize Plague Inc. in China. But the company doesn’t have one for Rebel Inc., either, which is also a paid app on iOS.
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The app’s disappearance could disappoint the game’s myriad new fans in China. While Plague Inc. has enjoyed success since it launched in 2012, the Covid-19 outbreak sent downloads of the game soaring, making it the top paid game on iOS for days at one point.
