Yesterday, we brought you the story about Chung "Blitzchung" Ng Wai, a professional Hearthstone player that called for the liberation of Hong Kong during a post-game interview on the official Taiwanese Hearthstone stream. During the interview, Blitzchung wore a gasmask not completely dissimilar to the ones worn by protesters in Hong Kong. Blitzchung voice his support for those who have been protesting China's growing authoritarian control over Hong Kong.
Blitzchung's interview was quickly cut short. The Hearthstone casters that were interviewing him attempted to hide their faces to avoid being associated with what Blitzchung was saying.
Today, Blizzard decided to go the route of the NBA and bend the knee to China. Blizzard has pulled Blitzchung from the Hearthstone Grand Masters and have rescinded all of his prize money. The company has also fired both of the Hearthstone casters that were working the event, the two that tried to hide their faces to avoid being associated with Blitzchung.
Blizzard issued a public statement saying that they banned Blitzchung for violating the "2019 Hearthstone Grandmasters Official Competition Rules section 6.1 (o)." Here is what that specific section of the rules says, according to Blizzard.
2019 HEARTHSTONE® GRANDMASTERS OFFICIAL COMPETITION RULES v1.4 p.12, Section 6.1 (o)
Engaging in any act that, in Blizzard’s sole discretion, brings you into public disrepute, offends a portion or group of the public, or otherwise damages Blizzard image will result in removal from Grandmasters and reduction of the player’s prize total to $0 USD, in addition to other remedies which may be provided for under the Handbook and Blizzard’s Website Terms.
Engaging in any act that, in Blizzard’s sole discretion, brings you into public disrepute, offends a portion or group of the public, or otherwise damages Blizzard image will result in removal from Grandmasters and reduction of the player’s prize total to $0 USD, in addition to other remedies which may be provided for under the Handbook and Blizzard’s Website Terms.
Blizzard then goes on to say that Blitzchung is not allowed to participate in Hearthstone esports for a period of 12 months running October 5, 2019 through October 5, 2020.
Comments on this announcement were disabled by Blizzard. Comments are rarely, if ever, disabled on announcements made on the Hearthstone website.
Furthermore, Blizzard says that they have also immediately ceased working with both of the casters. Why? No reason was given for that particular decision. Chances are this is just another step to try to appease China. They, much like the NBA, would rather keep doing business in China than display any sort of moral backbone to do the right thing.
No sense in sugarcoating it: This is pure cowardice on the part of Blizzard.
The image used above is part of a large statue displayed in front of Blizzard's Irvine offices. "Every voice matters" is even included as part of the company's mission statement. Every voice matters, until it impacts the bottom line.
I'm not saying Blitzchung is right or wrong in his cheer for the resistance, but I am saying I agree that Blizzard did a knee-jerk overreaction and punished these people for expressing opinions that don't cause physical harm. All because China is a large market, and they would kowtow to China's government to continue doing business there. Sigh... it's like opinions are now a privilege.