After Fight for the Future announced plans to hold a demonstration in BlizzCon, Blizzard issued a statement on the controversial decision. Although it sticks to its justification for penalizing players, the company has reduced the punishment by halving the time period of ban and restitution of his winnings. Player, Blitzchung says that he's not sure if returning to WoW Cataclysm Classic Gold once the ban is been lifted. The original story continues.
BlizzCon is the home of WoW Cataclysm Classic, game announcements, fan events and cosplay competitions. The event is expected to be the site of another event: massive protests over politics. Following Blizzard's widely criticized decision to disqualify players for making a political declaration during a post-match interview gamers are organizing a protest that will be held at the event.
The digital rights organization Fight for the Future unveiled its Gamers For Freedom campaign. The website already includes tools such as a scorecard for businesses who have pledged publicly to block players from playing, and suggestions for games similar to those for players who wish to leave Blizzard. The group calls the umbrella demonstration that will be held at BlizzCon. You can RSVP to the protest on its Facebook page and be a part of the group's Discord channel."Blizzard and other companies that are engaged in censorship in the name of a dictatorial government will not be able to get away with it," said Fight for the Future deputy director Evan Greer, in a statement. "They aren't aware of what Internet storm they've unleashed. We'll create an example of them so that everyone knows that putting freedom of expression and human rights under the bus in order to make more money won't be accepted."
The controversy started in the aftermath of pro WoW Cataclysm Classic player Ng Wai Chung (aka Blitzchung) declared his support for those who participated in Hong Kong protests during a post-match interview. Blizzard barred Chung from competing for a period of one year and then refunded his winnings of $10,000. Since then, the backlash was acrimonious with players calling for boycotts, and some even having their accounts removed. US Senators have criticized the decision as censorship. Some Blizzard employees held protests and hosts like Brian Kibler announced they would not be broadcasting WoW Cataclysm Classic events. Recently, WoW Cataclysm Classic 's first ever World Champion, James Kostesich known as "Firebat," called the punishment absurd and unreasonable.
Dayton Young, product director Dayton Young, product director at Fight for the Future, explained a set of actions Fight for the Future believes Blizzard must follow. These include lifting the ban on Chung and the restoration of his $10,000 tournament earnings, and fixing its relationships with livestreamers who haven't agreed to work with Blizzard.
"No gamers should ever be punished for speaking out about human rights or politics," Young said. "And any game developer should not ever impose a ban or punish gamers for expressing their personal freedom of speech. We ask all publishers and cheap WoW cataclysm Gold game developers to publicly pledge to protect freedom of clients employees, fans, and employees to freely express their views in America as well as within Hong Kong, in China and across the globe."
