Hong Kong And Mainland China Gamers Clash On GTA V

A player dressed as a Hong Kong protester on GTA V.Image copyright Weibo
Image caption A player dressed as a Hong Kong protester on GTA V

The Hong Kong protests are being played out on Grand Theft Auto (GTA) V online.

Players in Hong Kong realised they could dress up as protesters after a new update for the game was released earlier this month.

They spread the word on LIHKG - which has been called the Hong Kong version of social news site Reddit - and started organising violent expeditions.

Mainland players responded by showing up dressed as riot police with water cannon trucks.

Hong Kong-based news site Abacus was one of the first to report the development.

The Hong Kong protests started in June over a controversial extradition bill, and have now evolved into broader anti-government demonstrations.

GTA V is set in the fictional city of Los Santos, which is based on Los Angeles.

But that has not stopped gamers in mainland China and Hong Kong from using it as a battleground.

Image copyright Weibo

The latest version of GTA V's Diamond Casino Heist update saw more clothing items added to the game including yellow hard hats and gas masks.

On LIHKG, players were telling each other how to buy a set of clothing they have nicknamed "Glory to Hong Kong" and to join a "crew" called "Stand With Hong Kong".

The crew has been wreaking havoc in the game, trashing subway stations and attacking police vehicles with petrol bombs.

The two sides ended up in an "epic" fight in the game, according to social media discussions on Weibo. The mainland gamers won as they had more players on their side.

GTA V has not been approved by mainland Chinese authorities as it contains drugs, violence, and scenes of a sexual nature.

However, the game can be downloaded on the Steam gaming store and accessed through a number of other loopholes.

Gamers have been able to play out the Hong Kong protests on a number of other titles over the last few months.

A group of Hong Kong activists developed a virtual reality game called Liberate Hong Kong that allowed people to "experience" the protests without leaving their home.

There was also an Android game called The Revolution of Our Times, but Google removed it from the Play Store

Rockstar Games, the gaming company behind GTA V, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

RECENT NEWS

The Meteoric Rise Of Anthropic: Valuation And The Future Of AI

In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a buzzword but a cornerstone of technological advancement, Amaz... Read more

The Future Of Sports Strategy: Navigating The AI Revolution

In the fast-evolving world of competitive sports, the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been nothing shor... Read more

The Future Of Sports Strategy: Navigating The AI Revolution

In the fast-evolving world of competitive sports, the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been nothing shor... Read more

Beyond The Hype: The Harmonious Fusion Of AI And Music Genres

In the evolving symphony of the music industry, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a futuristic concept but ... Read more

Collaboration Or Competition? Big Tech And Public Archives

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, the intersection of public broadcasting archives and Big Tech's AI ambitions ... Read more

The Fallout Of Antitrust Actions: Apple's Stock Dips And Investor Sentiment Shaken

In a landmark move, the Biden administration has taken a significant step in tightening the reins on Big Tech’s market... Read more