The government has signaled for years that it is trying to gain stronger control over concerns such as eye problems, playing time and 'loot boxes,' or in-app purchases with an element of randomness. That approval number has to be provided to Apple by June 30, CNBC reported, citing a message to developers.Ĭhina is the world's largest mobile games market. The regulation requires game makers who want to charge for in-app purchases to get a license or approval number from the General Administration of Press and Publication of China. In Plague's case, the removal comes shortly after Apple set a deadline for app developers to comply with a 2016 regulation about paid mobile games in the country. Games are particularly closely regulated in China. CNBC was unable to reach Ndemic Creations for additional information.

The takedown became international news and led to an Apple shareholder proposal critical of the company's app removals, which was rejected at Wednesday's shareholder meeting but garnered support from 40.6% of votes cast by shareholders.Īpple declined to comment.

94 more apps were removed in China on the government's request for 'platform violations,' or content that violates Apple's own policies, the majority of which were related to illegal gambling.ĭuring the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests last fall, a Hong Kong mapping app was removed from the App Store after Chinese state media criticized the app. Out of a total of 217 apps removed from certain countries or regions in the first half of 2019 due to government requests related to legal violations, 194 were removed from the China mainland App Store, according to a count published by Apple. It's a simulation in which users play as an infectious disease whose goal is to wipe out the world's population.Ĭhina is sensitive about apps. Plague is one of the most popular iPhone games, and has been consistently in the top of Apple's App Store charts since it launched in 2012. '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.' stands out as an intelligent and sophisticated simulation that encourages players to think and learn more about serious public health issues,' the company said in a statement. Plague's creators said in statements that it was the most popular paid game in China for many years and that it was not designed to sensationalize disease outbreaks.

The App Store is the only way for most users to install software on iPhones, and it has become a magnet for criticism that Apple enables countries to remove apps they don't like, effectively censoring free expression. The removal is certain to reignite a debate over whether Apple should remove apps from its App Store on the request of governments around the world.

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