Ng ‘Blitzchung’ Wai Chung, Blizzard’s Hearthstone esports winner and Grandmaster, has been banned from the competition for 12 months and seen his prize money withheld after making a political statement on the liberation of Hong Kong.
In an interview on Sunday, after winning the title, he said he wanted the liberation of Hong Kong and, citing this was a “revolution of our times”.
Blizzard promptly stripped him of his title, banned him from entering the competition for a further 12 months and withheld his $10,000 USD in winnings as it claimed Chung’s statement violated competition rules. The rule specifically being that Chung had engaged 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”.
The publisher’s decision was met with fury from fans and criticism of censorship; some staff members within Blizzard have also allegedly staged a protest and walked out according to the Daily Beast.
Speaking to the Daily Beast, one Blizzard employee said that the action “Blizzard took against the player was pretty appalling but not surprising. Blizzard makes a lot of money in China, but now the company is in this awkward position where we can’t abide by our values.”
It’s important to note the success of the Blizzard franchises in China, as well as at the Chinese tech company’s, Tenecent, 5% stage in Activision Blizzard.
The story has also provoked responses from US senators, specifically Marco Rubio and Ron Wyden, who have both condemned Blizzard’s decision and actions.
