We monitor 175 App Store storefronts to answer one question —
Is Play On! by Volkswagen censored by Apple?
Play On! by Volkswagen is gone from every App Store storefront we test. It was last seen available on Oct 14, 2023.
576 tests on record·last checked 28 days ago
Why it is unavailable
Five things can put an app out of one App Store. Each is weighed below against what can be seen from outside — open a card for the reasoning.
A government or a court demanded it
and Apple complied. Apple publishes a count of these per country each year and never says which apps they were. Apple's 2025 App Store Transparency Report
- 36% of Lifestyle apps are unavailable in Afghanistan — 142 of 395 — against 24% of everything we test there.
- 5 other apps left mainland China the same day, Mar 19, 2024.
- Apple reports 1,213 government-ordered removals in Russia for 2025, naming none of them.
Apple applied a rule, unasked
either its own review guidelines, or its own reading of a local law, with nobody having demanded anything. This is the largest category in Apple's own removal figures by a wide margin, and it covers distribution permits as well as content — Apple kept a free Bible app out of mainland China in 2021 for want of one. Apple's 2025 App Store Transparency Report
- 36% of Lifestyle apps are unavailable in Afghanistan — 142 of 395 — against 24% of everything we test there.
- 5 other apps left mainland China the same day, Mar 19, 2024.
The developer withheld it
freely, or under legal advice of their own, or because Apple's guidelines require that kind of app to be limited to certain countries. Switching a country off is easy for a developer to do in Apple's own tools: it needs no new version of the app, and it leaves no public trace other than the app being unavailable.
- 36% of Lifestyle apps are unavailable in Afghanistan — 142 of 395 — against 24% of everything we test there.
- 5 other apps left mainland China the same day, Mar 19, 2024.
Something broke
a rejected update, a lapsed certificate, a payment or licensing problem, a mistake nobody has got round to noticing.
- 36% of Lifestyle apps are unavailable in Afghanistan — 142 of 395 — against 24% of everything we test there.
- 5 other apps left mainland China the same day, Mar 19, 2024.
- Gone for 4 years.
A local rule about paying for it
gambling licences, financial rules, tax — the kind of law that governs a transaction. Apple can obey every one of them by refusing the payment, which is why this is the only restriction we would accept and the only one that cannot touch a free app.
- It is free, so Apple sells nothing here.
How this is weighed, and what it cannot tell you
Weighed from the evidence under each card, not from a model. There is no published figure for how Apple's removals divide up, so these are ordered words rather than percentages. For scale on the same-day counts: across the whole record an app leaves a storefront with fewer than two others, so a dozen at once is not a dozen coincidences.
None of this is certain, and a citation does not make it so: Apple naming a Chinese agency tells you what Apple said, not everything that happened. What can be said is that the readings alone cannot separate these five — a developer switching off a country and a government ordering it removed arrive at Apple's catalogue looking identical — and that nobody has ever measured how they divide across the App Store. The one careful study of the question was done on Google's store, using an error message Apple does not emit.
Apple publishes no record of which apps are unavailable in which of its App Stores. For the removals it makes on a government's demand it publishes the agency and the law behind every one — 2,045 of the 166,899 apps it removed during 2025 — and never which app. Where a reason reaches the public at all, it is usually because a developer chose to say so. Apple's App Store Transparency Report
Know of a statement, notice or order we have missed? Tell us →
Play On! by Volkswagen
Developer: VOLKSWAGEN GROUP JAPAN K.K. · Category: Lifestyle · Released: Jul 7, 2018 · Rating: 0.4★
Other Lifestyle apps missing from India
Life of this app
- Jul 7, 2018Released on the App Store
- Mar 27, 2019First tested by AppleCensorship
- Oct 14, 2023Last seen available anywhere
- Sep 25, 2024Gone from 86 storefronts
- Aug 21, 2026Most recent test
Testing history
One column per month, every month from the first reading to the last. Height follows how many readings we took that month; red is the share of them that found the app unavailable. An empty month is one nobody tested.
Found availableFound unavailable
Availability by storefront
Every storefront we test, current status first. Data is a measurement, not a promise: each row carries its own date.
| Test now | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AfghanistanAF | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| AngolaAO | Unavailable | May 25, 2025 | 16 months ago | ||
| ArgentinaAR | Unavailable | Apr 15, 2026 | 5 months ago | ||
| BahamasBS | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 36 days ago | ||
| BahrainBH | Unavailable | May 7, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| BelarusBY | Unavailable | May 9, 2025 | 14 months ago | ||
| BelgiumBE | Unavailable | Apr 14, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| BermudaBM | Unavailable | Nov 19, 2025 | 10 months ago | ||
| BhutanBT | Unavailable | Feb 7, 2026 | 7 months ago | ||
| BotswanaBW | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 3 months ago | ||
| BrazilBR | Unavailable | Mar 29, 2026 | 4 months ago | ||
| BulgariaBG | Unavailable | Dec 13, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| Burkina FasoBF | Unavailable | Jul 4, 2025 | 5 months ago | ||
| CambodiaKH | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 2 months ago | ||
| CanadaCA | Unavailable | Sep 6, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| ChadTD | Unavailable | May 16, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| China (Mainland)CN | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| ColombiaCO | Unavailable | Dec 22, 2025 | 9 months ago | ||
| CzechiaCZ | Unavailable | Jan 12, 2025 | 2 years ago | ||
| DominicaDM | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 2 months ago | ||
| Dominican RepublicDO | Unavailable | Feb 25, 2025 | 2 years ago | ||
| El SalvadorSV | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 5 months ago | ||
| FijiFJ | Unavailable | Jun 7, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| FranceFR | Unavailable | Sep 9, 2024 | 6 months ago | ||
| GambiaGM | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 2 months ago | ||
| GeorgiaGE | Unavailable | May 19, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| GermanyDE | Unavailable | Apr 16, 2025 | 1 year ago | ||
| GhanaGH | Unavailable | Dec 16, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| GreeceGR | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 4 months ago | ||
| GuatemalaGT | Unavailable | Oct 25, 2025 | 11 months ago | ||
| Hong KongHK | Unavailable | Jul 2, 2025 | 15 months ago | ||
| HungaryHU | Unavailable | Oct 27, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| IndiaIN | Unavailable | Oct 19, 2025 | 2 months ago | ||
| IraqIQ | Unavailable | Aug 21, 2026 | 28 days ago | ||
| IsraelIL | Unavailable | Jul 23, 2026 | 2 months ago | ||
| ItalyIT | Unavailable | Apr 18, 2026 | 5 months ago | ||
| JapanJP | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 6 months ago | ||
| KazakhstanKZ | Unavailable | Aug 4, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| KenyaKE | Unavailable | Feb 9, 2026 | 7 months ago | ||
| KuwaitKW | Unavailable | Apr 7, 2024 | 11 months ago | ||
| LaosLA | Unavailable | Apr 19, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| LebanonLB | Unavailable | Dec 12, 2025 | 9 months ago | ||
| LiberiaLR | Unavailable | Dec 1, 2025 | 10 months ago | ||
| MadagascarMG | Unavailable | Aug 18, 2025 | 13 months ago | ||
| MalaysiaMY | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 28 days ago | ||
| MaliML | Unavailable | Jun 8, 2026 | 3 months ago | ||
| MauritaniaMR | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 7 months ago | ||
| MauritiusMU | Unavailable | Jul 24, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| MontenegroME | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 2 months ago | ||
| MoroccoMA | Unavailable | May 13, 2026 | 4 months ago | ||
| MozambiqueMZ | Unavailable | Jan 1, 2026 | 9 months ago | ||
| Myanmar (Burma)MM | Unavailable | Jul 29, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| NauruNR | Unavailable | Jul 24, 2024 | 28 days ago | ||
| NepalNP | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 4 months ago | ||
| New ZealandNZ | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 9 months ago | ||
| NigerNE | Unavailable | Sep 25, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| North MacedoniaMK | Unavailable | Nov 7, 2025 | 4 months ago | ||
| NorwayNO | Unavailable | Mar 6, 2026 | 6 months ago | ||
| PakistanPK | Unavailable | Sep 15, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| Papua New GuineaPG | Unavailable | Jun 30, 2026 | 3 months ago | ||
| PhilippinesPH | Unavailable | Aug 31, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| PolandPL | Unavailable | Mar 27, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| PortugalPT | Unavailable | Jul 17, 2025 | 14 months ago | ||
| QatarQA | Unavailable | Dec 11, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| Republic of the CongoCG | Unavailable | Mar 31, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| RussiaRU | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 4 months ago | ||
| Saudi ArabiaSA | Unavailable | Dec 8, 2021 | 2 years ago | ||
| SenegalSN | Unavailable | Dec 1, 2025 | 10 months ago | ||
| SerbiaRS | Unavailable | Dec 18, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| Sierra LeoneSL | Unavailable | Oct 30, 2024 | 9 months ago | ||
| SlovakiaSK | Unavailable | Jun 9, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| SloveniaSI | Unavailable | Nov 18, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| South KoreaKR | Unavailable | Oct 15, 2025 | 11 months ago | ||
| Sri LankaLK | Unavailable | Aug 29, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| St. Kitts & NevisKN | Unavailable | Aug 13, 2026 | 36 days ago | ||
| St. LuciaLC | Unavailable | Apr 13, 2026 | 5 months ago | ||
| SwitzerlandCH | Unavailable | Apr 14, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| TajikistanTJ | Unavailable | Mar 8, 2026 | 6 months ago | ||
| ThailandTH | Unavailable | Dec 27, 2025 | 9 months ago | ||
| TurkmenistanTM | Unavailable | Feb 16, 2025 | 2 years ago | ||
| UgandaUG | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 5 months ago | ||
| UkraineUA | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 6 months ago | ||
| United Arab EmiratesAE | Unavailable | Oct 14, 2023 | 28 days ago | ||
| United KingdomGB | Unavailable | May 2, 2024 | 2 years ago | ||
| United StatesUS | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 28 days ago | ||
| UruguayUY | Unavailable | Mar 19, 2024 | 16 months ago | ||
| AlbaniaAL | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| AlgeriaDZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| AnguillaAI | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Antigua & BarbudaAG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ArmeniaAM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| AustraliaAU | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| AustriaAT | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| AzerbaijanAZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BarbadosBB | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BelizeBZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BeninBJ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BoliviaBO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Bosnia & HerzegovinaBA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| British Virgin IslandsVG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| BruneiBN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CameroonCM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Cape VerdeCV | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Cayman IslandsKY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ChileCL | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Costa RicaCR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Côte d’IvoireCI | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CroatiaHR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| CyprusCY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| DenmarkDK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| DR CongoCD | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| EcuadorEC | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| EgyptEG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| EstoniaEE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| EswatiniSZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| FinlandFI | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GabonGA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GrenadaGD | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Guinea-BissauGW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| GuyanaGY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| HondurasHN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IcelandIS | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IndonesiaID | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| IrelandIE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| JamaicaJM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| JordanJO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| KosovoXK | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| KyrgyzstanKG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| LatviaLV | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| LibyaLY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| LithuaniaLT | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| LuxembourgLU | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MacaoMO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MalawiMW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MaldivesMV | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MaltaMT | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MexicoMX | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MicronesiaFM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MoldovaMD | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MongoliaMN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| MontserratMS | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NamibiaNA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NetherlandsNL | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NicaraguaNI | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| NigeriaNG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| OmanOM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PalauPW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PanamaPA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ParaguayPY | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| PeruPE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| RomaniaRO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| RwandaRW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| São Tomé & PríncipeST | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SeychellesSC | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SingaporeSG | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Solomon IslandsSB | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| South AfricaZA | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SpainES | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| St. Vincent & GrenadinesVC | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SurinameSR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| SwedenSE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TaiwanTW | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TanzaniaTZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TongaTO | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Trinidad & TobagoTT | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TunisiaTN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| TürkiyeTR | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| Turks & Caicos IslandsTC | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| UzbekistanUZ | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| VanuatuVU | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| VenezuelaVE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| VietnamVN | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| YemenYE | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ZambiaZM | Not tested | — | — | 0 | |
| ZimbabweZW | Not tested | — | — | 0 |
Testing asks Apple whether it will sell this app in that storefront, right now, by the same method the crawler has used since 2019. Your browser asks Apple directly, so the answer describes what Apple serves your connection — and if your browser cannot reach Apple at all, we ask on your behalf and say so. The result is a link: open it to see Apple's own answer and check ours. Readings are added to the record above; roughly a quarter of the readings taken each day come from people testing.
How we test
Availability is checked against Apple's own catalog servers for every storefront, the same way the App Store app asks. "Unavailable" means Apple's servers say the app cannot be offered in that country — it does not say who asked for the removal. Removals initiated by the developer and removals demanded by governments look the same from outside; the history and context on this page are how we tell them apart.