According to numerous sources, those living in China can no longer purchase Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The game, which has no official release in the region and therefore requires players to import the game via services like Taobao, has reportedly been pulled from sale after being banned. Taobao sellers are claiming that they have been given notice that they are no longer allowed to sell any imported copies of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, or any merchandise related to the game. Currently, no official reasoning has been given for the ban, but many believe that the ban was caused by people using New Horizons as a tool to protest, with political activists like Joshua Wong creating pattern designs saying "Free Hong Kong, Revolution Now".

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[CompSciOrBust]

Did they include Xinnie the pooh as a villager?

 

[Flame]

wtf. Animal Crossing is like the most family friendly game ever.
we as a species is doomed. on that note.. at least china can play Doom.

 

[smilodon]

So I can write "Free Hong Kong, Revolution Now" on anything and it will be banned in China? BRB gonna take a marker and scribble on some bats and pangolins.

 

[Xzi]

If the Chinese government is gonna ban every game with any degree of customization included as a feature, they've got a lot of work cut out for them.

Speaking of which...is Stardew Valley banned there yet?

 

[Nobody_Important4u]

I am really sorry but i have to post this:

Pls don't give me warns

 

[Zonark]

So I’m gonna bet this has to do with the cheating on games is illegal deal in China. I say this because “Time Travel” is openly done in this game and is considered “cheating”.

 

[tpax]

The game was banned in China because you can crossdress.

 

[DANTENDO]

Can you eat the animals in the game if not then thts why it's banned

 

[James_]

Are you fucking serious

 

[Bimmel]

..and that's what ROMs are for.

Sorry for your loss, China.

 

[Pipistrele]

So I can write "Free Hong Kong, Revolution Now" on anything and it will be banned in China? BRB gonna take a marker and scribble on some bats and pangolins.

When you have whole virtual revolutionary movements being organized in the game, it makes sense to ban the thing just in case. Not to defend the practice, just saying that from the point of pragmatic dictatorship.

(also, bats and pangolins did nothing wrong :< )

 

[Arras]

So I’m gonna bet this has to do with the cheating on games is illegal deal in China. I say this because “Time Travel” is openly done in this game and is considered “cheating”.

Wasn't it Korea where cheating is taken super seriously? If anything, I've heard cheating in online games is somewhat common in China.

 

[leon315]

Joshua Wong creating pattern designs saying "Free Hong Kong, Revolution Now".

jUST curious, HK never enjoyed democracy as british colony prior 1997, They have such prosperity, and status as independent special administrative region of China cauz China gave them such right, Why those spoiled brats still complaining that much?

Wasn't it Korea where cheating is taken super seriously? If anything, I've heard cheating in online games is somewhat common in China.

i heard they made laws for people who cheating in game like Overwatch or CSGO, to play those game players are required personal ID, and if you get banned, ur banned forever.

 

[BORTZ]

I would personally assume its because of all the protest memes i've seen posted already. But I have no idea.
Maybe China just hates all good things.

 

[Axido]

I'm sure it's just banned because it includes some bear that looks like Xi Jinping. I'm already trying to find out which one it is.

 

[Brigand]

I would personally assume its because of all the protest memes i've seen posted already. But I have no idea.
Maybe China just hates all good things.

Probably both.

 

[Bladexdsl]

sux to live in china now they have a plague and nothing to play

 

[lolz5521]

maybe because the game is talking about democracy when we choose the island name?

 

[Xzi]

They have such prosperity, and status as independent special administrative region of China cauz China gave them such right, Why those spoiled brats still complaining that much?

You can't be serious. This is dangerously close to the argument that, "Hitler did some good things for the German people." Calling people "spoiled" because they don't want every single one of their human rights trampled over...smh. There is no sugarcoating it, Xi Jinping is a dictator.