Blizzard Bans Pro Player for Supporting Hong Kong Protests, Claims to Have Always Been More Into Mahjong Anyway
In a move that has shocked both gamers and activists alike, California-based game company Blizzard has banned professional esports player blitzchung and confiscated his prize money after he voiced support for the Hong Kong protesters. Blizzard's latest decision comes at a time when there is growing skepticism around the integrity and moral grounding of large corporations. When asked for a comment on this controversial action, Blizzard’s spokesperson said, 'We’re not against freedom of speech, as long as it doesn’t cost us any money.' On hearing the news, fans were quick to criticize the company.One Reddit user noted the particular prescience of South Park's recent episode.South Park not only predicted this kind of behavior, but actually painted Blizzard's moral hypocrisy in high-definition detail. 'When you think of companies providing the moral voice of society, you don’t usually think of them bowing to the pressures of autocratic regimes and big dollar bills,' commented another enraged user. Blizzard claims that their decision is not influenced by their Chinese stakeholders but rather reflects their commitment to the game of Mahjong, which they believe aligns better with their corporate ethos going forward.But perhaps the most unexpected twist in this gaming gaffe comes courtesy of Gods Unchained. The rival game company wasted no time in offering to cover blitzchung’s lost winnings and inviting him to their $500k tournament. 'We believe no player should be punished for their beliefs,' they stated, turning Blizzard’s corporate misstep into their PR bonanza. One long-time Hearthstone player, who has since uninstalled the game, said, 'Even though I can't play Gods Unchained on my own laptop, that’s one classy move. Goodbye WoW Classic, hello to games that respect freedom!' As Blizzard continues to stand firm in their decision, gamers around the world are mulling over whether their moral compass should be dictated by tournament rules or their own ethics system.
In a move that has shocked both gamers and activists alike, California-based game company Blizzard has banned professional esports player blitzchung and confiscated his prize money after he voiced support for the Hong Kong protesters. Blizzard's latest decision comes at a time when there is growing skepticism around the integrity and moral grounding of large corporations. When asked for a comment on this controversial action, Blizzard’s spokesperson said, 'We’re not against freedom of speech, as long as it doesn’t cost us any money.' On hearing the news, fans were quick to criticize the company.One Reddit user noted the particular prescience of South Park's recent episode.South Park not only predicted this kind of behavior, but actually painted Blizzard's moral hypocrisy in high-definition detail. 'When you think of companies providing the moral voice of society, you don’t usually think of them bowing to the pressures of autocratic regimes and big dollar bills,' commented another enraged user. Blizzard claims that their decision is not influenced by their Chinese stakeholders but rather reflects their commitment to the game of Mahjong, which they believe aligns better with their corporate ethos going forward.But perhaps the most unexpected twist in this gaming gaffe comes courtesy of Gods Unchained. The rival game company wasted no time in offering to cover blitzchung’s lost winnings and inviting him to their $500k tournament. 'We believe no player should be punished for their beliefs,' they stated, turning Blizzard’s corporate misstep into their PR bonanza. One long-time Hearthstone player, who has since uninstalled the game, said, 'Even though I can't play Gods Unchained on my own laptop, that’s one classy move. Goodbye WoW Classic, hello to games that respect freedom!' As Blizzard continues to stand firm in their decision, gamers around the world are mulling over whether their moral compass should be dictated by tournament rules or their own ethics system.