Blitzchung's Ban and Blizzard's Official Reaction
At the Hearthstone Grandmasters Asia-Pacific this weekend, Grandmaster Blitzchung made a comment in a post game interview about the political situation in Hong Kong. Blizzard did not take kindly to this and banned him and the 2 casters involved in the production and on top of that removed the VOD. This is their official statement on what happened:
Quote from BlizzardDuring the Asia-Pacific Grandmasters broadcast over the weekend there was a competition rule violation during a post-match interview, involving Blitzchung and two casters, which resulted in the removal of the match VOD replay.
Upon further review we have found the action has violated the 2019 Hearthstone Grandmasters Official Competition Rules section 6.1 (o) and is individual behavior which does not represent Blizzard or Hearthstone Esports. 6.1 (o) is found below.
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.
Grandmasters is the highest tier of Hearthstone Esports and we take tournament rule violations very seriously. After an investigation, we are taking the necessary actions to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
Effective immediately, Blitzchung is removed from Grandmasters and will receive no prizing for Grandmasters Season 2. Additionally, Blitzchung is ineligible to participate in Hearthstone esports for 12 months beginning from Oct. 5th, 2019 and extending to Oct. 5th, 2020. We will also immediately cease working with both casters.
We’d like to re-emphasize tournament and player conduct within the Hearthstone esports community from both players and talent. While we stand by one’s right to express individual thoughts and opinions, players and other participants that elect to participate in our esports competitions must abide by the official competition rules.
Comparing a single guy who protested with the authoritarian regimes... Just WOW.
As if any of you gives two shits about Hong Kong or its people. What a joke. Take your fake outrage and go ask mom to mske you another hot pocket, I just laugh.
delete please.
To anyone who want to delete Blizzard games, please transfer your Blizzard balance to me, Appreciate it!
lol
New South Park season strikes right in 10. Those occasions together opened my eyes so hard about what happens in HK. Stay strong HK !
Blizzard "did well". Really? Even from a purely business standpoint, banning Blitzchung and the casters was incredibly dumb. Blizzard has created a huge shitstorm, leading to a surge in negative publicity, even amongst non-gaming websites. They even made the front page of BBC News.
Banning the casters was dumb, but not Blitzchung. It was in the rules that he wasn't supposed to say controversial things. He did, and now he's banned. We cannot choose which rules we will enforce based on our political beliefs, and even more so if we're trying to be politically neutral.
Imagine thinking that human rights are right to be free from totalitarian regime is a "controversional thing" xD
And why HK rioters has human rights, while half of the Asia should be liberated and they need democracy? This is their problem, and taking any side in it is actually not right.Blizzard is right, to not wanting to participate in that. And more Americans should understand, that they are not on this world to enforce their political vision upon everyone else.
And more Americans should understand, that they are not on this world to enforce their political vision upon everyone else.
This. I mean you don't blame disney for not mentioning the situation in Hong Kong in the last movie...
Unpopular opinion: blizzard did well to ban Blitzchung. Some events need to be politically neutral, Blizzard stated at the rules that he agreed to that any act that offends a portion or group of the public (in this case, the Chinese since this is highly controversial for them) will be forbidden. Blitzchung agreed to this and chose to protest for Hong Kong, and now he will face the consequences for it. He knew what he was getting into when he decided to protest (hopefully) after all. Blizzard is a bad company for many reasons but wanting to be politically neutral isn't one of them. I won't go to a library to yell about Hong Kong and call the librarians Chinese agents if they kick me out for it
He broke a rule that is so vastly vague and subjective that no one can ever not break it. You talk about flying around the world to attend the event? GASP! You offended a portion or group of the public! (in this case, Flat Earthers). This is just an open blank check for Bliz to stomp down on anyone whenever they choose. The rule doesn't even specifically bar Political speech. One of Bliz's Chinese overlords got upset, so they invoked a super-vague super open-ended clause that can apply to anyone for anything at any time for a ridiculously harsh punishment. That is not cool.
Political agitation does not belong to games, though banning and firing people is way over the top.
It was on the rules though. Actions have consequences, and here they were even described in an agreement they signed. The casters didn't deserve the ban imo, though
time to find new card game hearthstone is boring these days anyway
Shadowverse is pretty cool and interesting, and playable on mobile. Kind of hard to get a sense of the lore though
I tried to get into Shadowverse, but it's such a mess. Overall design is atrocious.
come play pokemon TCG new rotation just hit
great timing for new player
sometimes a noble sacrifice is needed to change something that's very important
what does blizzard even stand for? no idea, nothing probably. an utter destruction of a once loved company
talk about winning a battle but losing the war. good job, blizzard.
may you die in the gutter filled with china's asslicking spineless cowards