The popular game studio Blizzard is currently facing backlash from a decision concerning Hearthstone . Players are calling for a boycott, and even its own employees seem to be dissatisfied with the decision. They are silently expressing their protest.
What are the people protesting against? The Hearthstone Grandmaster Chung “Blitzchung” Ng Wai was harshly punished by Blizzard. He had made a political statement in a live stream, taking a stand against China and for Hong Kong.
He shouted during a Blizzard live stream: “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our age!”
Although Hong Kong is part of China, the residents there enjoy democratic and economic freedoms that do not apply in the rest of China. This is referred to as “One Country, Two Systems” and relates to Hong Kong’s past under British governance.
Recently, it seems China wants to increase its influence over Hong Kong, and many are protesting against this. This includes the Hearthstone Grandmaster, who hails from Hong Kong. He is reported to have earned approximately $20,400 from Hearthstone since 2017 (via liquipedia).
Blizzard strips Hearthstone pro of his existence as an eSports player
This is how Blitzchung was punished: After the outburst, the Hearthstone pro was removed from the lucrative and prestigious Grandmaster program. This is the foundation for making a living from Hearthstone eSports. There are only 48 Grandmasters worldwide, and it is difficult to get in – and usually just as hard to get kicked out.
Additionally, Chung was banned from all Hearthstone tournaments for a year, and Blizzard is withholding the prize money from Season 2.
The two casters who were there when Blitzchung made the statement, giggled and ducked for cover, were also fired.
Blizzard refers to Rule 6.1 of the Hearthstone Grandmasters. This rule prohibits statements that could damage Blizzard’s reputation, insult a group, or otherwise harm Blizzard’s image.
Blizzard employees cover up values
This is how Blizzard employees are protesting: At the entrance of Blizzard’s headquarters in California stands a 3.6-meter tall statue of an Orc. The ideals of Blizzard are engraved there, such as: “Gameplay First”, “Think Globally” or “Every Voice Matters”.
As the eSports announcer and former Blizzard employee Kevin Hovdestad shared on Twitter, someone covered the phrases “Think Globally” and “Every Voice Matters” with paper. They were reportedly angry employees.
He interprets this as a protest that not everyone at Blizzard agrees with the ban.
Update 10.10. 9:44 AM: As PCGamer reports, there was even more excitement around the statue yesterday. Allegedly, 20 Blizzard employees gathered in a sort of strike in front of the Orc statue to protest.
They had umbrellas with them – which are seen as a symbol of protest.
Where else is the protest forming? There are calls for a boycott against Blizzard. The Hearthstone subreddit exploded. Moderators temporarily closed the subreddit – but later reopened it.
Social networks are filled with critical statements against Blizzard.
At other events, like a college tournament for Hearthstone, a banner appeared reading “FREE HONG KONG, BOYCOTT BLIZZ.”
Problematic relationship between Western companies and China in focus
This is what it’s all about: This is a discussion that Blizzard may not appreciate: There is a public discussion about what compromises Western companies like Blizzard make in order to earn money in China.
So far, all of this has been off the radar of most players – this time it is not.
This is a discussion that has been simmering beneath the surface for years. However, it is rarely addressed by those in charge.
Any company that wants to make money in China must make compromises, as the Chinese government regulates access to the market and pursues its own ideological and economic interests.
Blizzard has been making these compromises – like many other Western companies – quietly and without objection for years:
- They form partnerships with local companies – like NetEase. Such partnerships are seen as a prerequisite for avoiding “trouble” in China – otherwise, “commissions” can lead to prohibitions on games like PUBG
- Blizzard alters the game to please Chinese censors. Even though they claim to do this “voluntarily”, like in the case of Hearthstone, many fans believe there is an intention behind it to appease China
- Or Blizzard uses the chat filter in WoW to suppress unwanted political protests
So far, all of this has been off the radar of most players – this time it is not.
