Blizzard Entertainment has suspended more esports players for expressing support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. This time, the company has issued a six-month ban to the Hearthstone team at American University after members held up a "Free Hong Kong, Boycott Blizz" sign during an official competition last week.

The esports team held up the sign a day after Blizzard made the controversial decision to suspend a separate Hearthstone player, Ng Wai "Blitzchung" Chung, for calling for the liberation of Hong Kong during a post-match interview.

The suspension sparked a public backlash against Blizzard; gamers, human rights experts, and US lawmakers have all slammed the US-based company for allegedly siding with the Chinese government on censoring political speech.

On Friday, Blizzard finally responded to the controversy by lessening the suspension against Chung from one year to six months. At the same time, the company defended the punishment, citing the need to make esports inclusive to all players, and thus politics-free. "In support of that, we want to keep the official channels focused on the game," Blizzard President J. Allen Brack wrote in his statement.

The company has now decided to level the same punishment to the Hearthstone team at the Washington DC-based American University, when initially it was unclear whether Blizzard would take any action. On Tuesday, team member Casey Chambers posted on Twitter the official notice Blizzard sent regarding the suspension.

"While delayed I appreciate all players being treated equally and no one being above the rules," Chambers said in the tweet.

Happy to announce the AU Hearthstone team received a six month ban from competition. While delayed I appreciate all players being treated equally and no one being above the rules. pic.twitter.com/mZStoF0e0t — Casey Chambers (@Xcelsior_hs) October 16, 2019

In another tweet, he added: "This one was pretty cut and dry. We knew what we were doing and expected the punishment. The problem was Blizzard ignoring our protest for PR reasons but going after Blitzchung."

The suspension may deal another public relations blow to Blizzard as gamer-backed calls for a boycott against the company remain strong. It also raises questions over whether the company can keep enforcing the no-politics policy if more esports players speak out.

In its defense, Blizzard told PCMag: "We strongly encourage everyone in our community to share their viewpoints in the many places available to express themselves. However, our official broadcast needs to be about the game and the competition, and to be a place where all are welcome.

"If we allow the introduction of personal views about sensitive issues into the channel, it ceases to be what it's meant for—esports," the company added. "We have rules in place to support this, to which these competitors, as well as others at all levels, have agreed. They knowingly broke those rules and we've suspended them from Hearthstone esports for six months."

Further Reading

Gaming Reviews