Blizzard Entertainment finally broke the deafening silence on the 'Blitzchung' controversy yesterday evening, when President J. Allen Brack posted an explanation message on the official website. You can find it below, though the gist of it is that Blizzard acknowledges its process wasn't adequate and the reaction was too quick. At the same time, they reject any claims that Chinese interests (Tencent, the largest game company in the world, owns 5% of Activision Blizzard shares) didn't have any influences on the decision. With regards to Blitzchung himself, Blizzard decided to allow him to get the prize he earned during the Hearthstone tournament as he played fair, and they've also lessened his ban to six months instead of twelve.

　　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.

　　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.

　　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.

　　All of this happens only a few weeks before BlizzCon 2019, the annual event where Blizzard meets with its many fans at the Anaheim Convention Center. According to credible rumors, the event taking place on November 1st-2nd should feature several big game announcements, though it remains to be seen whether the shadow of the Blitzchung controversy will be just too heavy to dispel.