Edit: Added Blitzchung's reaction.
After a long week of discussion, Blizzard changed it's decision on the Blitzchung affair. Read everything Blizzard's President, J. Allen Brack, as well as the subject of the discipline, Grandmaster Blitzchung, had to say below:
Quote from BlizzardHello Blizzard Community . . .
I want to take a few minutes to talk to all of you about the Hearthstone Grandmasters tournament this past weekend. On Monday, we made the decision to take action against a player named blitzchung and two shoutcasters after the player shared his views on what’s happening in Hong Kong on our official broadcast channel.
At Blizzard, our vision is “to bring the world together through epic entertainment.” And we have core values that apply here: Think Globally; Lead Responsibly; and importantly, Every Voice Matters, encouraging everybody to share their point of view. The actions that we took over the weekend are causing people to question if we are still committed to these values. We absolutely are and I will explain.
Our esports programs are an expression of our vision and our values. Esports exist to create opportunities for players from around the world, from different cultures, and from different backgrounds, to come together to compete and share their passion for gaming. It is extremely important to us to protect these channels and the purpose they serve: to bring the world together through epic entertainment, celebrate our players, and build diverse and inclusive communities.
As to how those values apply in this case:
First, our official esports tournament broadcast was used as a platform for a winner of this event to share his views with the world.
We interview competitors who are at the top of their craft to share how they feel. We want to experience that moment with them. Hearing their excitement is a powerful way to bring us together.
Over the weekend, blitzchung used his segment to make a statement about the situation in Hong Kong—in violation of rules he acknowledged and understood, and this is why we took action.
Every Voice Matters, and we strongly encourage everyone in our community to share their viewpoints in the many places available to express themselves. However, the official broadcast needs to be about the tournament and to be a place where all are welcome. In support of that, we want to keep the official channels focused on the game.
Second, what is the role of shoutcasters for these broadcasts?
We hire shoutcasters to amplify the excitement of the game. They elevate the watchability and help the esports viewing experience stay focused on the tournament and our amazing players.Third, were our actions based on the content of the message?
Part of Thinking Globally, Leading Responsibly, and Every Voice Matters is recognizing that we have players and fans in almost every country in the world. Our goal is to help players connect in areas of commonality, like their passion for our games, and create a sense of shared community.The specific views expressed by blitzchung were NOT a factor in the decision we made. I want to be clear: our relationships in China had no influence on our decision.
We have these rules to keep the focus on the game and on the tournament to the benefit of a global audience, and that was the only consideration in the actions we took.
If this had been the opposing viewpoint delivered in the same divisive and deliberate way, we would have felt and acted the same.
OK, what could Blizzard have done better, and where do we go from here?
Over the past few days, many players, casters, esports fans, and employees have expressed concerns about how we determined the penalties. We’ve had a chance to pause, to listen to our community, and to reflect on what we could have done better. In hindsight, our process wasn’t adequate, and we reacted too quickly.We want to ensure that we maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all our players, and that our rules and processes are clear. All of this is in service of another important Blizzard value—Play Nice; Play Fair.
In the tournament itself blitzchung *played* fair. We now believe he should receive his prizing. We understand that for some this is not about the prize, and perhaps for others it is disrespectful to even discuss it. That is not our intention.
But playing fair also includes appropriate pre-and post-match conduct, especially when a player accepts recognition for winning in a broadcast. When we think about the suspension, six months for blitzchung is more appropriate, after which time he can compete in the Hearthstone pro circuit again if he so chooses. There is a consequence for taking the conversation away from the purpose of the event and disrupting or derailing the broadcast.
With regard to the casters, remember their purpose is to keep the event focused on the tournament. That didn’t happen here, and we are setting their suspension to six months as well.
Moving forward, we will continue to apply tournament rules to ensure our official broadcasts remain focused on the game and are not a platform for divisive social or political views.
One of our goals at Blizzard is to make sure that every player, everywhere in the world, regardless of political views, religious beliefs, race, gender, or any other consideration always feels safe and welcome both competing in and playing our games.
At Blizzard, we are always listening and finding ways to improve—it is part of our culture. Thank you for your patience with us as we continue to learn.
Sincerely,
J. Allen Brack
President of Blizzard Entertainment
Blitzchung's reaction to the adjustments made to Blizzard's decision, in full, from today:
Quote from BlitzchungThank you for your attention in the past one week, this is a personal statement and my view on Blizzard's latest decision. First of all, I'm grateful for Blizzard reconsidering their position about my ban. Earlier this week, I told media that I knew I might have penalty or consequence for my act, because I understand that my act could take the conversation away from the purpose of the event. In the future, I will be more careful on that and express my opinions or show my support to Hong Kong on my personal platforms.
Many people has been asking me if I accept the latest decision of Blizzard, I will discuss that on two parts. Tournament prizing and suspension. For tournament prizing, I quoted what Blizzard said on the official website, they mention that I played fair in the tournament and they believe I should receive my prizing. This is the part I really appreciate, Blizzard also said they understand for some this is not about the prize, but perhaps for others it is disrespectful to even discuss it. People from Blizzard had explained this to me through a phone call and I really appreciate that and I accept their decision on this part.
For second part about the suspension, Blizzard had changed their suspension on me from a year to six months. Once again, I appreciate for their reconsideration on this. To be honest, I think six months is still quite a lot to me. But I also being told that I can continue to compete in the hearthstone pro circuit which they mean the grandmaster tournament. I appreciate for this decision they made because grandmaster is currently the highest level tournament in competitive hearthstone. However, I wish Blizzard can reconsider about their penalty on the two casters involved.
Lastly, many people wants to know if i would be competing in hearthstone in the future. Honestly, I have no idea on that yet. Since my next tournament is very likely to be the grandmaster tournament of next season, it's probably at least a few months from now on. I will take this time to relax myself to decide if I am staying in competitive hearthstone scene or not.
Hearthstone changed my the way I live, I really love this community. Blessing to all the players out there, and blessing to Blizzard.
this would have been a reasonable response from the start. coming after the fact, i'm afraid the damage is already done. as others said above, they've shown their cards. specifically, i do NOT believe this bit for one second: "The specific views expressed by blitzchung were NOT a factor in the decision we made. I want to be clear: our relationships in China had no influence on our decision." does anyone doubt that if a player used a post-match interview to talk about global warming or gun control or transgender bathrooms or some other lunacy that blizzard would not only not punish that player, but indeed celebrate them? they've exposed themselves as liars and hypocrites, and i doubt i'll be back even after this course correction. but this statement does at least open a crack in the door that their ham-handed actions slammed shut, so they deserve some credit for that at least.
Support Blizzard. They are doing the right thing
We know it's you, Xi.
And now, when all those human-right-protectors (or just trolls, call any way you like) started to poo everywhere with their bs, a giant company that makes popular games must EXCUSE. Damn, stop that planet, I must go anywhere else.
Now all those american spies, who want to make a crisis in china, and people with no intelligence will downvote me, whatever man.
Ni hao, Chinese artificial intelligence
Your absolutely transparent damage control does not derail from the fact that you have shown your cards Blizzard, you bend the knee to a country rife with Human-Rights atrocities. Your actions taken against Blitzchung have had rippling effects across the community and I along with many others have no love or loyalty in my heart for the shell of a company you call Blizzard anymore.
Mr. Liar President, Blizzard were cowards and still are. They shouldn't be punished at all. A warning would be enough.
Anyone who really believes the situation in China had no influence on their decision needs to leave their games for once and research how the real world works. It's a fear driven decision, fear of losing money.
they should'nt be punished at all ? i don't agree with that, there are rules and they broke them, that's it, they have to be ready to accept the consequences ... but were they punished WAYYYY to hard in the first place, that i agree with, and i still think 6 months is too much, but it's better, with the price money restored, it's a start. For me 3 months would have made it acceptable, just so that he could'nt participate to the blizzcon finals.
Still uneasy about what happened, and not sure I buy their explanations as to why, but this is diffinately a step in the right direction, and enough to make me personally step down from outraged and offended to skeptical and warry.
I still think the rule they punished him under is far too broad and vague and could really use some tightening up. When the bar is potentially offending 'any group or portion of the public', you can nail that onto almost anything said ever. It's less a code of conduct then a blank pretense for justifying laying down the hammer on anyone they want for whatever reason.
This is exactly what Blizzard should've done in the beginning, judged way too quick. A good move none the less, but the damage is done. Hopefully a lesson is learned here from both parties, casters can get to work again in 6 months as well as the champion prize being given back. Not happy, but at the same time its redeemable.