Iran blocks Supercell’s Clash of Clans country-wide

Iran’s Ministry of Justice was busy at the end of last year, blocking access to Supercell’s mobile smash-hit Clash of Clans, after a report that said that game had potential to instigate tribal conflict.

Over the Christmas break Iranian fan-sites for Clash of Clans reported they couldn’t access the game and Iran’s deputy attorney general, Dr Abdolsamad Khoramabadi, gave a statement confirming that the government would be blocking access to the app in the country, a move that was supported by the "vast majority" of the government committee behind the initial report.

It’s not the first time that gamers in Iran have been hit by restrictions to what they could and couldn’t play after government involvement. Arma 3 was denied a license for sale in Iran due to its portrayal of Iranian military forces. World of Warcraft had issues in 2012 due to NATO trade sanctions and back in August, the government also banned Pokémon Go over security concerns over its location-based design.

For now it seems Clash Royale is safe, but as it’s set in the same world and also has clans clashing together, it’s possible it’ll flag onto the government’s radar as it gets more popular.