Monster Hunter World Pulled from Chinese Market After Five Days
Here’s a news item that will make you grateful to live in a Constitutionally-protected area. Government regulators in China have pulled Monster Hunter World from their digital marketplace. The game is no longer for sale, and it was only offered for five days. Those who already downloaded the game can still play it, but people who sat on the decision to purchase are now angry.
The Chinese version of the popular Capcom-developed title was published in China by Tencent through their WeGame digital platform. All games have to pass a government-led content inspection before they can be approved for sale in the country. MHW initially passed this test, so its pulling is mysterious and unexplained. And due to the nature of the Chinese government we may never GET an explanation.
The only real lead comes from the Financial Times, who suggests “bureaucratic infighting” could be the cause of Monster Hunter World getting yanked. They point out that a new media regulator has slowed things down approval-wise, leading to a backup that’s creating “a months-long freeze on the approvals of new mobile games in China.”
Equally unclear are answers on whether the game could return to the Chinese market. In any event, Tencent is now offering a 30-day refund to those who paid money for Monster Hunter World.