Controversial Taiwanese Horror Game Devotion Revived in New Store
The Taiwanese horror game Devotion has found new life online as its developer, Red Candle Games, has launched an online store. Players can now buy both Devotion and its predecessor, Detention.
Shortly after being hailed as a modern horror classic, Devotion was removed from Steam because of an art asset that appeared to compare Chinese president Xi Jingping to Winnie the Pooh. Memes comparing Xi Jinping with Winnie the Pooh have become a shorthand for criticizing the president's policies, and although Red Candle Games said the asset was a mistake, its game was removed from Steam.
Hello, Red Candle e-shop is now online. https://t.co/smmZxHj7zQ#返校Detention, #還願Devotion and our future projects will all be on e-shop in DRM-free format.
— redcandlegames (@redcandlegames) March 15, 2021
We hope to provide a direct and simple purchasing channel for players who’re interested in our games. pic.twitter.com/1SxzBZSiyW
Red Candle has struggled to make Devotion available since, as condemnation from China's government is a major liability for any storefront. In 2020, just hours after announcing the game would appear on GOG, CD Projekt reversed the decision and pulled the game.
Red Candle released a physical edition of the game in June, but that release never made it to the West. Through the studio's website, standard edition Devotion can now be bought for $16.99. Also available are Detention for $11.99 and a complete edition bundle including both games for $41.96.