The Chinese publisher of horror game Devotion has had its business license revoked

(Image credit: Devotion)

Taiwanese first-person horror game Devotion was pulled from sale in February after the discovery of in-game art that appeared to mock Chinese president Xi Jinping. A review-bombing campaign from Chinese state-supporters followed, which led to an apology and explanation from developers Red Candle Games. 

Now Devotion's Chinese publisher, Indieevent, has had its business license revoked by the Shanghai city government. While we can't interpret the official documents, PCGamesN confirmed the news via Ian Garner, co-founder of Asia and Europe-based publisher Another Indie, who was informed of Indievent's closure by Chinese colleagues. Garner says that the closure documents do not mention Devotion, only that Indievent broke "relevant" laws.

Red Candle Games employed Taiwan-based Winking Entertainment to publish in territories outside of China, but Winking cut ties with Red Candle after the controversy around Devotion peaked. Garner tells PCGN that even though China doesn't oversee Taiwan-based companies like Winking, the Taiwanese game industry gets a significant amount of funding from China, which makes it difficult for companies like Winking to ignore pressure from the Chinese government. For Indievent, a China-based publisher, ignoring the pressure was impossible. 

A still from the domestic horror of Devotion.  (Image credit: Red Candle Games)

It's likely that same pressure that explains why Red Candle Games, a Taiwan-based studio, pulled Devotion after Chinese criticism, or why it's yet to return to sale. It is also likely due to contractual agreements between the developer and publishers we're not privy to. With Indievent gone and Winking out, the roadmap for Devotion's hopeful return has likely been blurred and prolonged.

In a statement released to Vice in May, a Red Candle Games representative said, "We have been working our best to bring it back to Steam." Red Candle also told Vice that the plan is to keep the game's content the same. I'm assuming that means the broader concepts and doesn't include any images of Xi Jinping as Winnie the Pooh.  

Red Candle Games has otherwise remained silent since that final February 25 blog post. There's been no word on when Devotion will actually return to sale. The recent announcement of an official Detention movie, Red Candle's first game, implies Red Candle is still functioning, if not full steam ahead, but the licensing or sale of intellectual property doesn't guarantee anything. 

I've reached out to Red Candle Games for more information on the closure of Indievent, what kind of impact it will have on the return of Devotion, and whether that planned return is still in the works or not. We'll be sure to update this story as any developments occur.

PRODUCTS
James Davenport

James is stuck in an endless loop, playing the Dark Souls games on repeat until Elden Ring and Silksong set him free. He's a truffle pig for indie horror and weird FPS games too, seeking out games that actively hurt to play. Otherwise he's wandering Austin, identifying mushrooms and doodling grackles. 

Latest in Games
Alligator skull with glowing eyes on human body and cords coming out sitting at piano with "The Norwood Etudes" ready to play
My new most anticipated RPG let me be a kleptomaniac gourmand set loose in a noir city on a quest to make 'the perfect sandwich'
Man facing camera
The Day Before studio reportedly sues Russian website for calling infamous disaster-game a 'scam'
Resident Evil Village - Lady Dimitrescu
'It really truly changed my life in every possible way': Lady Dimitrescu actor says her Resident Evil Village role was just as transformative for her as it was for roughly half the internet in 2021
Monster Hunter Wilds' stockpile master studying a manifest
Monster Hunter Wilds' new gyro controls are a fantastic option for disabled and able-bodied players alike
Storm trooper hero
Another live service shooter is getting shut down, this time before it even launched on Steam
Fragpunk FPS
Fragpunk review
Latest in News
Man facing camera
The Day Before studio reportedly sues Russian website for calling infamous disaster-game a 'scam'
Will Poulter holding a CD ROM
'What are most games about? Killing': Black Mirror Season 7 includes a follow-up to 2018 interactive film Bandersnatch
Casper Van Dien in Starship Troopers
Sony, which is making a Helldivers 2 movie, is also making a new Starship Troopers movie, but it's not based on the Starship Troopers movie we already have
Assassin's Creed meets PUBG
Ubisoft is reportedly talking to Tencent about creating a new business entity to manage Assassin's Creed and other big games
Resident Evil Village - Lady Dimitrescu
'It really truly changed my life in every possible way': Lady Dimitrescu actor says her Resident Evil Village role was just as transformative for her as it was for roughly half the internet in 2021
Storm trooper hero
Another live service shooter is getting shut down, this time before it even launched on Steam