Blizzard community,
Our world has a long history of racism. Humans create groups, and then create divisions between groups unlike themselves. Ironic how we need each other as social creatures, yet we developed the practice to ‘other’ humans who at first glance don’t look like what we see in the mirror.
I have made it a personal obligation to educate myself about trauma others endure, and to work to change those experiences for them. Many within Blizzard come from a place of strong purpose, with a will to do in order to help society.
Last year at BlizzCon, I made a commitment for Blizzard to do better. We pride ourselves on learning and growing, and doing something now that reflects our company and community values. I also said that our actions would matter more than our words—we have been publicly silent until now because action is the important part.
Let me be clear: Blizzard stands in solidarity with those fighting against racism, because racism is as dangerous as any pandemic for those affected. We stand with those fighting against social and institutional structures that promote inequality among people of color.
Last week, AB announced donations to the Equal Justice Initiative, the United Negro College Fund, and the Management Leaders of Tomorrow (MLT) to fight systemic racial inequality. At Blizzard, we are working on initiatives for our community and our workplace.
In our games: For many years, we’ve had teams working with A.I. and machine learning to reduce toxicity and hate speech, as well as to help improve the overall gaming experience. Since January 1 this year, we’ve banned over 30,000 accounts for these reasons, as well as issued more than three million total hours of player suspensions. These penalties have notably improved our game environments: over the last two years, we’ve seen a 43% reduction in poor behavior reports, and a 59% reduction in the re-offense rate. And while this is progress, we’ve identified other places where we can use this technology and have more work to continue to do toward this effort.
In our relationships: We are also reviewing our partnerships to identify opportunities to support Black-owned and diverse businesses, and to amplify the voices of Black content creators and influencers.
Juneteenth: Today at Blizzard, we are observing Juneteenth with the goal of encouraging employees to take the time to be educated. We hosted a virtual session with a leader in our home city of Irvine, California, so employees can learn more about implicit bias, implications for law and policy, and how they can get involved in local efforts to drive change. We have also provided a list of resources to help coworkers self-educate, and shared ways to get involved in advocacy.
Ongoing: We are stronger with more diverse views and experiences. We are committed to being a more equitable workplace, including how and where we recruit, our HR practices, and employee support. We will also put an ongoing employee education program into place. This program will include more training and education (with the materials purchased from Black and minority-owned businesses), and Blizzard-wide town halls with experts on allyship, advocacy, and racism.
All of this work will continue to make Blizzard better, and play some small part in a larger, positive shift.
To our Black community, colleagues, and partners, Blizzard stands with you.
Black lives matter, today and always.
- J. Allen Brack, president of Blizzard Entertainment
That's not the sort of cost I'm talking about.
and btw, the people you're replying to aren't solely debating economics, just a tip.
Imagine Blizzard reaction for the same situation but in China :D
Yes, Blizzard thinks that black lives matter but yellow lives don't matter. They didn't take a position in that situation and they are taking an obvious position in this one.
This post is disgusting.
No, that isn't remotely true. China brings in more money than the entire global black community combined. They don't think that yellow lives don't matter lol they are just smart enough not to throw their entire business under the bus because of internet outrage. This is different. It is a simple PR stunt that doesn't cost them anything.
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If contribution is the question ... then the sum of humankind's contribution is plastic! When we are extinct and gone ... the earth will essentially be a jumbled mix of what it was before ... plus plastic! Maybe that's the reason we're here! I have read that there are microbes who are already able to digest the abundance of plastic that has accumulated in the "oceans of plastic" ... but maybe the whole purpose of our species is to put crude oil back into the food chain.
Careful, don't cut yourself on that edge, child.
Thank God I live in Poland,
Da kurwa
Blizzard: loud in public, internally:
I see more Asian than European people there, so I guess your point is Blizzard is Asian supremacist company?
Or maybe, just maybe, they're hiring the most qualified person for the job and the racial makeup of the staff is reflecting cultural tendencies of certain ethnic groups to go into and excel at fields required for the job.
Or, you know, white supremacy... Its one of the two for sure.
DansGame I didn't see any trolls. Obviously racial profiling
#All Lives Matter
*Blitzchung wants to know your location*
This post is disgusting. Sure that Black lives matter, we are humans. If you have to say something regarding this thing, when your business is totally another, underlaying what are you doing, in order to prevent racism, you are the racist Blizzard. We are in the 2020 people that think that black lives don't matter are retarded dumbs. Stupids don't need credits.
The worst true racism today is the perbenism, you are trying to gain business advantages on things that you should not underlaying because obvious.
I am disgusted.
Okay buy will we get some packs for that?
All lives matter, not only black. What a racist slogan!
all lives matter is pure racism and hate.
I ask for more blacks streamers and more transgender orcs please
And the gratuitous sexual frying pan.