Blizzard is facing an intense backlash after banning a player over Hong Kong pro-democracy comments, with some fans boycotting its games

Players are boycotting games like World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Hearthstone after a user was punished for supporting pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong during a tournament.

BuzzFeed News 2019-10-09 Lauren Strapagiel

Context & Ripple Effects

Blizzard's punishment of a Hearthstone competitor — the one-year ban and rescinded $10K prize for pro-Hong Kong comments on a tournament broadcast — has escalated from a moderation call into a legitimacy crisis for the company. Boycotts are now hitting its three biggest franchises, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Hearthstone, the live-service games whose recurring revenue depends on the same player base being alienated.

The backlash is compounding from two directions: a former World of Warcraft development lead is [[a:946665|publicly denouncing Blizzard and framing Chinese investment as silencing pro-democracy voices]], giving the boycott a credibility boost from inside the industry, while players are weaponizing Mei, a Chinese Overwatch character, into a pro-democracy symbol — a protest designed to get Blizzard's games banned in China, forcing the company to choose which market it offends.

First-order effects

Blizzard is losing goodwill and presumably play time across World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Hearthstone as organized boycotts spread, directly pressuring the live-service revenue those titles generate.
The company was forced into a partial retreat: it cut the suspension to six months and restored the prize money while insisting the original decision had nothing to do with China — an admission the initial punishment was unsustainable.

Second-order effects

The Mei protest turns Blizzard's own Chinese-market assets against it, raising the cost of its China exposure and signaling that Western players will actively try to poison the relationship rather than just walk away.
Rival publishers and esports operators now face a forced choice on speech rules for their own tournaments in China-adjacent markets, since Blizzard's reversal shows the harsh-penalty playbook backfires with Western audiences.

Third-order effects

If the pattern holds, Western game companies operating in China will face structural pressure to separate their moderation and prize policies by region rather than enforce a single global standard — with every choice now auditable by one market or the other.
The episode makes Chinese investment in game companies a reputational liability in Western markets, a critique former developers are now voicing publicly and that could shape future cross-border deals and talent decisions.

The trend: Global game platforms are discovering that a single speech-and-moderation standard across Western and Chinese markets is untenable, forcing regional policy splits and making China exposure a live reputational risk.

Discussion

@slasher Rod Breslau on x
Breaking: Effective immediately, Blizzard has removed Hong Kong Hearthstone player blitzchung from Hearthstone Grand Masters, rescinded all his prize money, and have suspended him from pro play for one year for his recent interview. Statement below https://twitter.com/... pic.tw…
@lackofrealism Kevin Hovdestad on x
Not everyone at Blizzard agrees with what happened. Both the “Think Globally” and “Every Voice Matters” values have been covered up by incensed employees this morning. pic.twitter.com/I7nAYUes6Q
@grummz Mark Kern on x
This hurts. But until Blizzard reverses their decision on @blitzchungHS I am giving up playing Classic WoW, which I helped make and helped convince Blizzard to relaunch. There will be no Mark of Kern guild after all. Let me explain why I am #BoycottBlizzard
@slasher Rod Breslau on x
Blizzard has also disabled comments on the news which are normally open, and from scrolling back through hundreds of posts this is the only time they've done that can't imagine why pic.twitter.com/KvCyLXpmtU
@somedud24904003 Somedude on x
Yeah... interesting to see how modern boycotts might actually be effective... People are trying to make Mei a symbol of Hong Kong to get the game banned in China to hurt Blizzards bottom line. I'm encouraged to see people take a stand. https://www.eurogamer.net/...
@jasonschreier Jason Schreier on x
In the middle of Blizzard's campus there's a big orc statue surrounded by company slogans - powerful statement here from their staff. https://twitter.com/...
@grummz Mark Kern on x
I take a huge risk by saying this. China monitors all social media and I know this means that we will probably never get an investment from China for my new MMO, and probably never get a license to operate there.
@grummz Mark Kern on x
I've seen firsthand the corruption of Chinese gaming companies, and I was removed from a company I founded (after Blizzard) for refusing to take a 2 million dollar kickback bribe to take an investment from China. This is the first time I've ever spoken pubically about it.
@grummz Mark Kern on x
Chinese game companies have grown huge not just because of market size, but because the government subsidizes them. They get free land, free offices, and huge infusions of cash. This cash was and is used to do expand and buy up stakes in US gaming companies.
@grummz Mark Kern on x
I have watched China slowly take over as the dominant investing force in gaming and movies over the years. It's a shame US companies never believed as strongly as China and Asia in investing in games, but this allowed China to have unprecedented influence over our media.
@grummz Mark Kern on x
Unfortunately, US and European companies are loath to take risks and invest in game companies legally as much as China was. China remained one of the few places mid tier studios could get funding. So again, China influence grew. I'm sure this is the same for movies as well.
@grummz Mark Kern on x
But now we are in a situation where unlimited Communist money dictates our American values. We censor our games for China, we censor our movies for China. Now, game companies are silencing voices for freedom and democracy. China is dictating that the world be authoritarian.
@tenaciousdznuts Xela on x
“screw u guys, im going home” #Blizzardboycott pic.twitter.com/0YShzciAlX
@laurenstrapa Lauren Strapagiel on x
I let my WoW subscription lapse months ago in favour of ESO and angry gamer boys made me stop playing Overwatch, so guess I'm in the clear! https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ...
@inteldotwav Spooky Gang on x
Check out the new logo. #Blizzardboycott pic.twitter.com/cWE3oTjsIG
@rampantcritic @rampantcritic on x
#Blizzardboycott wouldn't it be a shame if Mei became a symbol of Hong Kong. pic.twitter.com/3EhU34HMeW
@spicy_wasabaee @spicy_wasabaee on x
Great job on the logo redesign, Blizzard. It matches your personality perfectly! #BlizzardBoycott #WorldofWarcraft pic.twitter.com/t5MTNSeWrl
@slasher Rod Breslau on x
Blizzard has also fired both of the Hearthstone casters working the event, both of whom literally ducked underneath the desk during the interview and neither of which to my knowledge had any idea what was going to be said very cool, Blizzard
@kaipo_rozwolf Kaipo on x
My photoshops are nothing if not both lazy and fast, but still. #HongKongProtest #Blizzardboycott pic.twitter.com/nsE1VWl0e3
@grummz Mark Kern on x
But enough is enough. I stand with Hong Kong, and I oppose Blizzard's obvious and laughably transparent fear of China. It's time for Blizzard to grow the spine it used to have, and to do what's right for gamers once again. Gamers, rise up.
@willoremus Will Oremus on x
Last week, Apple rejected a Hong Kong maps app that let protesters track police. Critics speculated Apple was trying to appease China, but lacked proof. Yesterday, Apple approved the app on appeal, and Chinese state media blasted the company. So, yeah. https://onezero.medium.com/…
@bergmayer John Bergmayer on x
Apple probably shouldn't be running an app store in China, or it should make sideloading much easier such that running a censorious one doesn't matter https://twitter.com/...
@peterinexile Peter Dahlin on x
China is now attacking @Apple music site for allowing an ‘unpatriotic’ song. Next @Spotify @YouTube etc will need to remove any songs not approved by CCP? https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
@rj_gallagher Ryan Gallagher on x
This is an interesting test case for Apple in China. Company has cooperated in CCP censorship but recently reversed a decision to remove from its app store an app used by Hong Kong protesters. Now state media accusing Apple of complicity in crime. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
@marcorubio Marco Rubio on x
Today I will be asking CFIUS to review #TikTok's acquisition of http://Musical.ly . Ample & growing evidence exists that TikTok's platform for western markets, including the U.S., are censoring content in line with #China's communist government directives.
@stratechery @stratechery on x
The China Cultural Clash https://stratechery.com/... The NBA controversy in China highlights a culture clash that both tech companies and the U.S. government need to take to heart. Plus, why Tiktok being Chinese is increasingly a problem.
@caseynewton Casey Newton on x
Important and timely @benthompson post on how we need to start thinking about China, the internet, money, and our values https://stratechery.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@sbanjo Shelly Banjo on x
This has been talked about for over a year, but since CFIUS often works in secret it's hard to know whether investigations are happening. https://twitter.com/...
@ahmed Ahmed Al Omran on x
This is the point every company dealing with China will reach: what matters more, money or values? https://stratechery.com/...
@yrechtman @yrechtman on x
This from @benthompson on China, the NBA, and TikTok is really good. Strong agree that it's well past time stop letting China run roughshod over our free speech prerogatives. When it comes to tech and the national interest, we're losing an asymmetric war. https://stratechery.com/…
@fryan @fryan on x
TikTok may now be censoring searches for “..”, the Chinese name of the Houston Rockets. https://stratechery.com/...
@joshconstine Josh Constine on x
Unfortunately, though Musically had a US office & blew up here, it was based in Shanghai so the US may have no way to consider unwinding its acquisition by China's ByteDance as @benthompson suggests (& I wish could happen) https://stratechery.com/...
@joshconstine Josh Constine on x
America's best defense against TikTok in that case would be blocking it (a BOLD move), Facebook's Lasso (which would worsen competition), or upstart Byte (just getting started). If only Twitter could restart Vine https://techcrunch.com/...
@martinsfp Martin Sfp Bryant on x
The case of the NBA this week shows how, in an age where companies are increasingly expected to have political opinions, even taking a purely ‘business and customers first’ approach can be a political statement. https://twitter.com/...
@johnwilson John S. Wilson on x
Not sure how the US gov't could force private companies to avoid censorship based on Chinese rules or culture. And wouldn't that also be an example of the US gov't imposing its own rules and expectations on private companies (outside of security concerns). https://twitter.com/...
@vijaya Vijaya Gadde on x
Very thoughtful read by @benthompson “And, in situations like this weekend, when values meet money, I worry just how many companies are capable of choosing the former?” https://twitter.com/...
@randfish Rand Fishkin on x
Maybe the best thing @benthompson has written https://stratechery.com/.... Takes courage to go against a country that's shown no apprehension in silencing its critics.
@modestproposal1 Modest Proposal on x
Must read. One of his best, which is saying something. https://twitter.com/...
@modestproposal1 Modest Proposal on x
“Attempts by China to leverage market access into self-censorship by U.S. companies should also be treated as trade violations that are subject to retaliation. Make no mistake, what happened to the NBA this weekend is nothing new” pic.twitter.com/TxESmOaUDw
@ericnewcomer Eric Newcomer on x
Stratechery's @benthompson floats the idea that US should put TikTok's http://Music.ly acquisition under CFIUS review “given TikTok's apparent willingness to censor content for Western audiences according to Chinese government wishes” https://stratechery.com/...
@nytimes @nytimes on x
Companies like Blizzard, the NBA and Tiffany & Co. are increasingly struggling with how to be apolitical in an increasingly politicized and punitive China https://www.nytimes.com/...
@matthewstoller Matt Stoller on x
This a major and important piece by @benthompson on China, the NBA, and TikTok. Thompson is a thoughtful business leader, and his mournful yet realistic acceptance of the break between China and the West reflects both courage and pragmatism. https://stratechery.com/...
Vox Zack Beauchamp on x
One of America's biggest gaming companies is acting as China's censor
@ronwyden Ron Wyden on x
Blizzard shows it is willing to humiliate itself to please the Chinese Communist Party. No American company should censor calls for freedom to make a quick buck. https://kotaku.com/...
@marcorubio Marco Rubio on x
Recognize what's happening here. People who don't live in #China must either self censor or face dismissal & suspensions. China using access to market as leverage to crush free speech globally. Implications of this will be felt long after everyone in U.S. politics today is gone. …
@grummz Mark Kern on x
It's done. #BoycottBlizzard pic.twitter.com/2jMG1TNuZr
@lachlan Lachlan Markay on x
Gaming company @Blizzard_Ent, which banned a prominent player this week for speaking out in support of Hong Kong demonstrators, has this statue and accompanying plaque outside its Irvine, CA, campus pic.twitter.com/LxIqBA4H2L
@vocommunism @vocommunism on x
U.S. company @Blizzard_Ent punishes @blitzchungHS for pro-Hong Kong comments. His response: “I know what my action on stream means. It could cause me lot of trouble, even my personal safety in real life. But I think it's my duty to say something.” #HongKongProtests https://twitte…
@vickerysec Chris Vickery on x
Sen. Wyden puts some well-deserved shame on Blizzard. But for a real gut punch to Blizz, Wyden should have also pointed out that Grim Dawn is superior to Diablo 3 in every way. https://twitter.com/...
@tomasforgac Tomas Forgac on x
Blizzard sucks up to the regime in Hong Kong and China, bans a player and steals $10K of his prize money, after he publicly supported Hong Kong's protestors https://www.techmeme.com/... #egames #China #antiELAB
@mahoutzukai Fuego Escalofriante De Basura on x
A reminder to all my gamers out there that Blizzard is more concerned with its market in China than it is for the rights and safety of those protesting in Hong Kong. I know this isn't important for some of you, but it should be. https://twitter.com/...
@sweetpotatoes Nicole Carpenter on x
i spoke to @blitzchungHS yesterday and he said he expected “negative consequences,” but that he still wanted to “contribute to the protest” in hong kong https://www.polygon.com/...
@vahn16 Nathan Grayson on x
every time blizzard purports to make a game about a better world, battling against an unfair status quo, or empowering marginalized people, think about this. think about the company's real world actions when money is on the line https://kotaku.com/...
@brucefenton Bruce Fenton on x
Can you imagine if Blizzard withdrew a prize from someone because they criticized Trump or Hillary? https://twitter.com/...
@tomgara Tom Gara on x
“There's one rather glaring hole in this story of immediate outrage from Chinese fans over Morey's tweet: Twitter is banned in China.” https://stratechery.com/...
@matthewstoller Matt Stoller on x
@krystalball @esaagar Western business leaders by and large do not want to give up on freedom, but they felt they had no choice bc everyone *had* to be in China. Now that attitude among policymakers and business/financial leaders is changing. https://twitter.com/...
@martinbelam Martin Belam on x
Prominent gamer has been banned from competing by US company Blizzard for calling for the liberation of Hong Kong after a live-stream https://www.invenglobal.com/ ...
@timrizzo Tim Rizzo on x
#boycottblizzard is now trending in the US as a result of this decision. https://twitter.com/...
@peppercoyote @peppercoyote on x
So “Cancel Culture” is mostly overblown and kinda fake. Do anything that against capital, however and an American company concerned with the Chinese market will absolutely cancel you. And not the “Couldn't host the oscars but is still in every movie” kind of cancelled. https://tw…
@saladinahmed Saladin Ahmed on x
we spend a lot of time talking about our cyberpunk dystopia but remember that young people are also coming up with venues for resistance that could never have occurred to science fiction authors 30+ years ago https://twitter.com/...
@invenglobal @invenglobal on x
We have a statement from @blitzchungHS “... I put so much effort in that social movement in the past few months, that I sometimes couldn't focus on preparing my Grandmaster match...” https://www.invenglobal.com/ ...
@simonparkin Simon Parkin on x
Yesterday a Hearthstone tournament winner said ‘liberate Hong Kong’ during his post-match interview. Now the game's publisher Blizzard, part-owned by the Chinese conglomerate Tencent, has rescinded the player's winnings and issued him a year-long ban... https://twitter.com/...
@timbray Tim Bray on x
What the actual... srsly Blizzard? https://www.techmeme.com/...
@vikkikitty VikkiCat on x
Actually insane. https://twitter.com/...
@isaacstonefish Isaac Stone Fish on x
This should get more attention: the American video game company Blizzard just banned a gamer and took away his prize money after he supported Hong Kong. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@mollymckew Molly McKew on x
Why are us “hardliners” always saying you can't take the money from Russian, Chinese investors? Because it all comes with state strings. In this case, cow-towing to the oppression of a pro-democracy movement. This is despicable. https://twitter.com/...
@deezus_walks Dillon but on x
Damn bro just when I thought Blizzard was the most unlikable company, they cave in and lick the boot of China to save face so the Chinese don't get angry and stop buying their product. Not sure I've seen a game dev company pick a side in politics this hard before. https://twitter…
@lizjosullivan @lizjosullivan on x
My BFF has been a Blizzard super user for 11+ years. He's cancelling his account today. Liberate Hong Kong. https://twitter.com/...
@mollymckew Molly McKew on x
US companies with Chinese investment are debasing themselves condemning Hong King protests. Any company that caves to these anti-democratic requests — gamers, NBA, don't care who — should be boycotted by Americans who cares about our history and freedom. https://www.bloomberg.com…

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