US Congress Gets Involved In Hearthstone Player’s Suspension, Asks Blizzard To Reconsider

As you might have heard, Blizzard has come under massive fire recently for their decision to suspend a Hearthstone professional player for a year. This was because the player, Ng Wai Chung, also known as blitzchung, decided to show his support for the Hong Kong protests during his post-game interview.

Now it looks like the issue has escalated to the point where it looks like US Congress is getting involved. In a letter written to Blizzard’s CEO Bobby Kotick by U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), the Senators are asking for Blizzard to reconsider the suspension of Ng.

The letter reads in part, “Your company claims to stand by ‘one’s right to express individual thoughts and opinions,’ yet many of your own employees believe that Activision Blizzard’s decision to punish Mr. Chung runs counter to those values. Because your company is such a pillar of the gaming industry, your disappointing decision could have a chilling effect on gamers who seek to use their platform to promote human rights and basic freedoms.”

Blizzard did previously soften their stance where initially, they took away the prize money from Ng and gave him a year’s suspension. They later changed it to a 6 month suspension and gave him his prize money. Whether or not this letter from Congress will change anything remains to be seen.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Gaming
Tags: Blizzard, China, hearthstone, Legal