Brooke Martin
Devotion is a first-person atmospheric horror game by Red Candle Games that takes place in a 1980s Taiwan apartment complex. The game explores the life of a family and their religious beliefs. It was released in February 2019 but was soon review-bombed and taken down from Steam due to an in-game poster comparing Chinese President Xi Jinping to Winnie the Pooh. Despite the controversy, Devotion received positive reviews from critics, who praised its storytelling, attention to detail, and ability to evoke emotion. The game has a runtime of around two to three hours and is now available on Red Candle Games' official website and other platforms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Game Developer | Red Candle Games |
| Game Type | Atmospheric horror game |
| Setting | 1980s Taiwan apartment complex |
| Inspiration | East Asian folk culture |
| Gameplay | First-person |
| Platforms | Steam, macOS, GOG |
| Release Date | February 2019 |
| Runtime | 2-3 hours |
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What You'll Learn
Devotion is a horror game by Taiwanese studio Red Candle Games
Red Candle Games is based in Taipei, Taiwan, and consists of a development team of 12 people. Devotion was not intended to be political but instead about "religious fanaticism". The game was released on February 21, 2019, and was available on Steam for only six days before it was review-bombed by Chinese players. This was due to an in-game poster comparing Chinese President Xi Jinping to Winnie the Pooh, which was interpreted as an insult to the Chinese leader. As a result of the controversy, Red Candle Games' Sina Weibo account was blocked, and posts containing the hashtag #Devotion were hidden by Chinese censors.
Despite the controversy, Devotion received positive reviews from critics, who praised its storytelling, attention to detail, and unique horror experience. David Jagneaux of IGN described Devotion as "a fantastic psychological horror game that’s short, concise, and well-paced from start to finish." Richard Wakeling from GameSpot also praised Red Candle Game's attention to detail, which "establishes and effectively reinforces Devotion's disconcerting sense of familiarity." The game has a runtime of around two to three hours.
In March 2021, Red Candle Games opened their own digital storefront to sell Devotion, along with their prior game Detention and future releases. A macOS version was also released.
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The game was released in February 2019
Devotion, Red Candle Games' second title, was released on 21 February 2019. The game is a first-person atmospheric horror game inspired by East Asian folk culture. It depicts the life of a family in 1980s Taiwan, whose home gradually shifts into a hellish nightmare.
The game was released on Steam, but its availability was short-lived. Just six days after its release, Devotion was review-bombed by Chinese players due to an in-game poster comparing Chinese President Xi Jinping to Winnie the Pooh. This resulted in the game being pulled from the platform and Red Candle Games issuing an apology. Despite this setback, Red Candle Games remained committed to re-releasing the game in Western markets when circumstances allowed.
In July 2020, plans were announced to release Devotion on GOG. However, these plans were quickly scrapped after GOG received messages from angry gamers. A limited edition physical copy of the game was released in Taiwan in June 2020, but there was no worldwide shipping available. As of March 2021, Devotion could be purchased directly from Red Candle Games' digital storefront, along with their prior game, Detention, and future releases.
Despite the controversy surrounding Devotion, it received positive reviews from critics. David Jagneaux of IGN praised it as "a fantastic psychological horror game that's short, concise, and well-paced from start to finish." Richard Wakeling from GameSpot commended Red Candle Games' attention to detail, which "reinforces Devotion's disconcerting sense of familiarity."
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It was review-bombed by Chinese players and removed from Steam
Devotion, a first-person atmospheric horror game by Red Candle Games, was released on Steam on February 19, 2019. Two days after its release, Chinese players discovered a fulu talisman decorating a wall in the game that contained the words "Xi Jinping Winnie the Pooh" in Chinese seal script. This was a reference to an internet meme that compares the Chinese general secretary to the Disney character. The talisman also included transcribed words that sounded similar to a Mandarin phrase that could be interpreted as an insult to the Chinese leader. As a result, Chinese players review-bombed the game on Steam, leading to its removal from the platform just six days after its release.
The review-bombing campaign by Chinese players resulted in Devotion's overall rating on Steam dropping from ""Overwhelmingly Positive" to "Mostly Negative". According to Spiel Times, the issue was not just the reference to Winnie the Pooh but also the nature of the talisman, which included a severe curse directed at everyone in mainland China. Many Chinese players felt deceived into playing a game that mocked their nation, especially as more hidden messages about the PRC were discovered.
In response to the backlash, Red Candle Games issued an apology and explained that the inclusion of the image was a mistake made during the game's development. They stated that the image was used as placeholder art and patched out the offending material, replacing it with a talisman that reads "Happy New Year". Despite the apology and removal of the image, the negative sentiment towards the game persisted, and Red Candle Games' Sina Weibo account remains blocked.
The incident raised concerns about the future of the Steam platform in China, which did not have official approval to operate in the country but had a significant number of Chinese users. In July 2019, the Chinese government revoked the license of Indievent, citing violations of relevant laws as the reason. Red Candle Games also released a statement saying they had no plans to re-release Devotion in the near term to prevent further misconceptions.
Despite the controversy and removal from Steam, Devotion received positive reviews from critics, who praised its storytelling, attention to detail, and ability to evoke emotion. In March 2021, Red Candle Games opened their own digital storefront to sell Devotion and their other games directly to players.
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The game explores the spiritual and religious faith of its characters
Devotion is a first-person atmospheric horror game by Red Candle Games that explores the spiritual and religious faith of its characters. The game is set in a 1980s Taiwan apartment complex that gradually shifts into a hellish nightmare. Players explore the lives of a family shadowed by religious beliefs and uncover the unsettling truth of those who lived there.
The game delves into the vows and devotion of each member of the family, specifically exploring one person's spiritual and religious faith and their descent into paranoia and misplaced spiritualism. The player steps into the shoes of Feng Yu, a screenwriter who lives with his former superstar wife Li Fang and their daughter Mei Shin. Both parents dream of their daughter continuing her mother's legacy as a famous singer. However, when the young girl contracts a mysterious illness, Feng Yu's desperation leads him down a path of paranoia and religious fanaticism.
The game's narrative centres around the family's religious beliefs, with players interacting with objects, examining letters and diaries, and solving puzzles to uncover the dark secrets hidden within the apartment complex. The game's developers aimed to introduce players to Taiwanese culture, creating an atmospheric game that feels familiar to Taiwanese players while also showcasing the unique cultural aspects of Taiwan to an international audience.
Devotion received praise for its attention to detail and ability to reinforce a disconcerting sense of familiarity. The game's exploration of spiritual and religious themes adds depth to the horror experience, evoking a sense of desperation and the disturbing nature of the father's beliefs. The game's setting, characters, and narrative choices all contribute to a unique and immersive gaming experience that stays with players long after they finish the game.
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It takes place in a small apartment in 1980s Taiwan
Red Candle Games' Devotion is a first-person atmospheric horror game set in a small apartment in 1980s Taiwan. The game explores the life of a family whose world is distorted by their religious beliefs and fanaticism. As the player, you step into an apartment complex, with 80s music and an idol show playing on the television, creating a sense of nostalgia. However, as you explore the apartment, you uncover the disturbing truths about the family that lived there.
The game was designed to showcase Taiwanese culture and create a sense of familiarity for Taiwanese players, with attention to detail in the setting and the incorporation of traditional Asian instruments and folk music in the soundtrack. The game was developed by a team of 12 people and released in February 2019. Devotion is Red Candle Games' second title, following their successful indie horror game, Detention, set in 1960s White Terror-era Taiwan.
The game takes place entirely within the small apartment, creating a claustrophobic and intimate environment for the player. The confined setting adds to the sense of unease and distress that the game aims to evoke. The apartment becomes a character in itself, with its shifting and distorted spaces reflecting the psychological state of the family members. As players uncover the mysteries within the apartment, they also delve into the minds of the characters and the vows that bind them.
Devotion has received praise for its immersive storytelling and attention to detail, with critics noting its ability to reinforce a sense of familiarity and evoke emotion. Despite some criticism of the gameplay as "unimpressive and boring," the game has left a lasting impression on players with its artful and terrifying sequences. The exploration of spiritual and religious themes, as well as the depiction of a family's descent into darkness, makes Devotion a unique and memorable experience.
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Frequently asked questions
The game has a runtime of around two to three hours.
Devotion is a first-person atmospheric horror game depicting the life of a family in 1980s Taiwan, whose home gradually shifts into a hellish nightmare. The game explores the family members' religious fanaticism and spiritual faith.
Devotion was initially released on Steam but was removed shortly after. It was then re-released as a physical copy and later made available on Red Candle Games' own digital storefront, along with a macOS version.
