Blizzard Entertainment is defending its decision to suspend an esports player for calling for the liberation of Hong Kong during a live stream. However, the gaming company has decided to lessen its suspension against the player from one year to six months, and to also give back his prize money.
The Friday statement from Blizzard president J. Allen Brack goes over the company's reasoning behind the suspension. The main takeaway: Blizzard wants to keep esports competition free of politics in order to make the events inclusive to gamers of all cultures and backgrounds.
"Every Voice Matters, and we strongly encourage everyone in our community to share their viewpoints in the many places available to express themselves," Brack said. "However, the official broadcast needs to be about the tournament and to be a place where all are welcome. In support of that, we want to keep the official channels focused on the game,"
According to Brack, the company's stance has nothing to do with its business in China at a time when the country's government has been condemning the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. "I want to be clear: our relationships in China had no influence on our decision," he said, adding: "If this had been the opposing viewpoint delivered in the same divisive and deliberate way, we would have felt and acted the same."
[BREAKING] Hong Kong Hearthstone player @blitzchungHS calls for liberation of his country in post-game interview:https://t.co/3AgQAaPioj
@Matthieist #Hearthstone pic.twitter.com/DnaMSEaM4g — ?? Inven Global ?? (@InvenGlobal) October 6, 2019
The esports player, Ng Wai Chung who goes by the handle "Blitzchung", was originally slapped with a one-year ban from Blizzard's Hearthstone tournaments for saying "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution in our age," during a post-game interview broadcasted last weekend. In addition, Blizzard also stripped away the prize money he had won during the tournament.
At the time, Blizzard penalized Blitzchung for breaking a competition rule that prohibits offending a "portion or group of the public" or causing damages to the company's image. But on Friday, the company said it was scaling back the penalty. "In hindsight, our process wasn't adequate, and we reacted too quickly," Brack said.
"In the tournament itself blitzchung *played* fair. We now believe he should receive his prizing," Blizzard's president said while adding: "But playing fair also includes appropriate pre-and post-match conduct, especially when a player accepts recognition for winning in a broadcast."
As a result, the company is lessening, but not fully rescinding the suspension against Blitzchung. "There is a consequence for taking the conversation away from the purpose of the event and disrupting or derailing the broadcast," Brack added.
Blizzard issued the statement as the public backlash against the company has been raging all week. Gamers have been threatening to boycott the company's games. Meanwhile, free speech advocates and US lawmakers have been slamming Blizzard on allegations that it's been helping the Chinese government to effectively censor support for the protests in Hong Kong.
Blizzard's latest statement doesn't appear to be sitting well with its critics, who note the company issued the message late on Friday when gamers and journalists may not notice. "It's not a great statement, and they know it. This is how you bury it." said Former Blizzard employee and World of Warcraft developer Mark Kern a tweet.