Google removes homophobic game Ass Hunter from its Play store following backlash
Ass backwards
Google has removed a game called Ass Hunter from its Play store after a slew of complaints in the app review section due to its homophobic content.
Ass Hunter is a shooter in which you hunt naked gay men before they can run up to you and molest you. "Play and do not be gay!" read the game's description on Google Play before it was removed.
Ass Hunter has been available to play online in various forms since 2002, but was only released for Android on November 23rd 2014.
Unlike Apple with its App Store, Google does not review games for the Play store before they are released. If it did, Ass Hunter would not have been available on there at all.
As pointed out by LGBT Weekly, it violates two points in the Google Play content policy:
- Hate Speech: We don't allow content advocating against groups of people based on their race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation/gender identity.
- Violence and Bullying: Depictions of gratuitous violence are not allowed. Apps should not contain materials that threaten, harass or bully other users
According to GayStarNews, before Ass Hunter was removed from the Play store, it was downloaded over 10,000 times.
And, despite the complaints, it apparently received a number of five-star reviews from players. Which is rather concerning to say the least.