Battlechat Blizzard, Destiny 2 and Starfield News, Reviews, Videos & GuidesAfter a few days of storm, Blizzard responded to the incident that took place during the Hearthstone Grandmasters tournament last weekend.
Blizzard admits that the punishment they had imposed last Monday, namely a year’s ban from player Blitzchung, lost prize money and firing the casters might not have been appropriate.
J. Allen Brack (President of Blizzard Entertainment) himself admitted to the question of what Blizzard could do better:
“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 or 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.
The penalty has now been reduced to 6 months, which applies to both the player and the casters.
Perhaps the most important quote from the statement story is the following:
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’re always listening and finding ways to improve — it’s part of our culture. Thank you for your patience with us as we continue to learn.
Read the entire statement here https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/blizzard/23185888/regarding-last-weekend-s-hearthstone-grandmasters-tournament
