The Bribery of BlizzCon 2019

In my last article on the controversy Blizzard and the other US cooperate entities are facing over their loyalty to their money over their morals, I ended the article with some imagery, describing the situation of this year’s BlizzCon as “With so much scrutiny under the social microscope, it will be a tightrope for Blizzard to try and walk this year. And if there is a figure wearing a gas mask and carrying an umbrella and a pair of scissors ready to cut it, they have no one to blame but themselves.” And sure enough, it happened. News coverage of the opening day was DOMINATED by the active protests in support of Hong Kong and demonstrating against Blizzard’s recent bans. 

It seemed the morning was filled with people ready to come down on the event and claim that the protests were the biggest story out of BlizzCon’s opening day. As the crowds entered the Anaheim Convention Center for the opening ceremony, we were greeted by the president of Blizzard, J Allen Brack, who took the stage and offered what was essentially an apology of not being more open about their decision… that they were too harsh. To note, the two Taiwanese casters, who had no notice, prior knowledge of, and deliberately hid themselves to avoid any potential retribution from being associated with Blitzchung, received the same punishment as the streamer. There has not been any reasonable explanation given.

I digress.

The apology was empty and full of empty platitudes to “the fans,” and full of grandiose mentions of failing to live up to their “high standards” and “purpose.” It really looked like the empty platitudes were going to be the biggest news out of Blizzcon, but then it happened. 

Normally when one thinks of a bribe, they think of smoke-filled rooms in the back of night clubs, or park tunnels, or even parking garages. They think of veiled threats, strong-arm tactics, and musclebound thugs. They don’t think of some long-haired Kyle MacLachlan looking motherfucker who presents you with virtual cocaine in the forms of long-awaited sequels to games you’re still playing years after they came out. But that’s what happened. In order to take news away from the protests, in order to take control of the news cycle to ignore their apology that wasn’t an actual apology, they gave us what we’ve been asking for, for years – true honest to god sequels to Diablo and Overwatch. Alongside those, they gave us the return of Lilith, the mother of Humanity in Sanctuary. In addition came the announcement of a bona fide cooperative mode for Overwatch. More news, more updates, more expansions. It was finally the BlizzCon we’d been waiting for. 

In an incredible move, no doubt consulted under the watch of PR and Corporate Crisis officials, the angry masses were pacified. The momentum shifted. Now cries of “Why are you upset? Blizzard apologized” have begun to echo. It’s amazing, really, how the fickle fairweather freedom fighters move about. I’m lying if I say that I’m not excited. I tweeted about it. It was my birthday, I turned 30, and I came out. It should have been the best birthday present ever. But that excitement tastes like ash in my mouth. Any excitement feels weighted down as I remember the images of the protesters in Hong Kong being beaten by police, as the long paw of President Pooh Bear leaves behind honey I see glazed over as a veneer on BlizzCon. 

We live in frighteningly brazen times as the powers of the world seem content to openly display their abuses of power and where the rights of people are being stripped away before our eyes. It’s times like this that we tend to retreat to these other worlds and seek haven in them as we did when we were younger. But instead, we need to be conscientious consumers. Video games aren’t just video games anymore. They’re part of a multi-billion dollar industry that helps fund companies willing to do business with companies like NetEase, Blizzard’s partner that operates all Chinese mainland operations. It’s a paper shield J. Allen Brack hid behind concerning the independence of their decision with Blitzchung and the casters. 

It will be hard, as the cultural zeitgeist, when your friend asks you if you’ve seen the latest cinematic or the newest announcement. Even my adoration and borderline obsession with the Overwatch League feels weighted. I watched the Overwatch World Cup and cheered when Team USA won. But my heart feels heavy, threads of guilt wrap around it, and I wonder if it can only get worse. But I look forward to the answer to that and many other questions in the weeks and months to come. 

“Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy. But remember this: You have friends here. You’re not alone.”

J.K. Rowling

Blizzard walked into BlizzCon with a briefcase filled with announcements, and so many of us took the bribe. But if there is any sort of silver lining, it’s the protests and their participants. From the President Xi cosplayers to the picket line chanters, to the people who used theirs once in a lifetime chance to ask a Blizzard developer a question to speak out in support. Hell, even the Free Hong Kong kid from the NBA game showed up. If any of us make the hard decision, it’s comforting to know that when we do, there’s someone holding out their hand telling us, “It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this.”