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Blizzard has removed Hong Kong Hearthstone player blitzchung from Hearthstone Grand Masters and rescinded all his prize money
- Thread starter Lump
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I suspect that this was a snap decision impulsively handed down on a regional level, and that at this hour, J Allen Brack might not even have woken up to it yet in California to witness the scale of PR nightmare that has popped up overnight.
It is, of course, still his responsibility as the man at the top. The perception that Blizzard is abandoning its player base for the Chinese market is a stink that has quite properly clouded the company for years, and it has only gotten worse since Morhaime left. (The disproportionate scale of last year's uproar over Diablo Immortal, ultimately, wasn't just about Diablo Immortal.)
What I'm saying is that there is still room for action and still room for a strong, acceptable official response. It's just that none of us should be foolishly optimistic enough to expect it.
Blizzard's top-level management is still in a position to talk to its eastern offices, walk this back, and reconcile with the players. (It's why I'm not deleting any accounts just yet, although I've frozen all my plans for spending.) Whether they'll have the guts to run against Chinese pressure, by even making a small compromise like rescinding the ban, is another matter. In the current climate, we all know they probably don't, and I think it's quite understandable for their communities to respond on the presumption that they don't.
Terrible.
But you know what, Activision-blizzard made this decision because they calculated placating China was best for their business Than defending democracy
I wonder how many of their consumers will take a stand to prove them wrong. My guess is "almost none"
But you know what, Activision-blizzard made this decision because they calculated placating China was best for their business Than defending democracy
I wonder how many of their consumers will take a stand to prove them wrong. My guess is "almost none"
Thanks. Awful situation. Will be interesting to see how they handle the PR backlash (if there even is any significant backlash).
The problem is that there is no serious thought of walking back on this. The Chinese backslash would indeed be disastrous for Blizzard and might very well result in a full ban of the company from the entire Chinese market. Even minor "slights" towards China and it's government aren't ever accepted which is why Blizzard and all the other companies bendover backwards so pathetically.
In some way, it's beautiful to see the prioritizing of financials over ethics in such clarity for companies wanting in on the Chinese market. Tough to act woke for them, here.
I hope everyone is ready for more of this kind of bullshit from every other company Tencent has a stake in, or who has significant Chinese investment or investment in China.
It's not paranoia, or anti-Chinese propaganda. Tencent are an extension of the Chinese State. To do business in China you have to be buddy-buddy with the CCP.
It's not paranoia, or anti-Chinese propaganda. Tencent are an extension of the Chinese State. To do business in China you have to be buddy-buddy with the CCP.
I don't really play any of their games, but I was going to pick up Overwatch on the Switch to give it a go. I know it's not going to bankrupt them, but I won't be buying it now.
blitzchung is streaming right now and answering questions in english too.
might be shorter to make a list of the companies who don't deal with China
All companies are garbage and they'll almost always go where the money is. That said, thems the rules and the guy broke them so he got the banhammer ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Pretty sure the Olympics has pretty strong repercussions when you try to use it as a platform for your political speech too.
Now why the hosts got fired as well, I have no idea, that's messed up.
Now why the hosts got fired as well, I have no idea, that's messed up.
Doubt they would utter a peep, don't wanna bite the hand that feeds them.
I have not bought an Activision-Blizzard game to my knowledge in like the past decade.
Add it to my boycott list. I've been called borderline racist for saying I dont want to support games companies with too much chinese stakeholders though
Add it to my boycott list. I've been called borderline racist for saying I dont want to support games companies with too much chinese stakeholders though
You are going WAY too easy on them. I understand that what you are saying is that there are systemic problems at work here. You are absolutely correct. That being said, this isn't a child growing in a broken society heading down the wrong path because he hasn't been taught the right lessons, this is a giant corporation actively suppressing a person's voice in order to profit. That is shitty AND cowardly.
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