The protests in Hong Kong continue to be prominent in the eyes of the world, and the situation shows no sign of abating soon. In fact, it seems to be escalating into new territory, if recent events inGrand Theft Auto 5are any indication.
The protests began after the introduction of a bill that would see prisoners extradited for trial in mainland China. The bill’s subsequent removal has not slowed the protests, and players have started using the customization options inGTA Onlineto show which side they support
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Those who sympathize with the cause of the protesters have begun to mimic their dress code inGTA 5, sporting black clothes, sometimes including riot gear, as well as gas masks and yellow hardhats. The weapons of choice for these players also mimic real life protesters, primarily using molotov cocktails. Protesters have been attacking police in game, which is not exactly a departure from the norm, but have also explicitly been vandalizing train stations, again in imitation of the real life protests. While this is not thecraziest thing aGTAplayer has done, it is one of the most political and widespread statements to date.
This was quickly mirrored and countered by players from the Chinese mainland, who began dressing as riot police and using tear gas and firearms. There was a confrontation between the two groups which ultimately saw the protester players defeated by superior numbers. With a conflict that hasdivided so many, it’s no surprise to see the anger spread into a game likeGTA 5, where self expression through in-game stunts and violence is a constant.
It is safe to say that this will not be the last time that the Hong Kong protests spill into the gaming scene, as companies like Valve face controversy surrounding possible political decisions regarding the banning of protest-related games. Blizzard is also still in the spotlight, as one of the most beloved characters fromOverwatch,Mei, has become a pro-Hong Kong symbol. While Blizzard has since struggled to make amends for its action, it is unclear what Rockstar, the company behindGTA 5, will do in response to the conflict on its servers.
Grand Theft Auto 5is available for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
