Hey Blizzard. I know that I have little chance of being heard by You here , but I did not find your other contacts and, perhaps, someone who reads this will consider it necessary to show the letter to his (her) colleagues.
My name is Nickita, I live in Kaliningrad, in the very west of Russia. I love your games from early childhood, from the Lost Vikings, WC II and SC. At that time, it was impossible to purchase licensed software from us here - and we were amazed even with pirated versions with terrible translations and cut videos.
I remember it clearly, when for my eleventh birthday, my parents gave me Warcraft 3. It became the first licensed game in our home, a new era has come.
The years of my life went by, each of which contained many hours, warmed by Blizzard’s creations: Diablo, Starcraft 2, Hearthstone, finally World of Warcraft - yes, I only came in the days of the Legion - I was afraid of MMO games, but in the end my love to the stories of Warcraft had won.
Why did I write all this? So that you can understand that you took an important place in my life, and there are many people like me in Russia.
On the 24th of February of this year, our world cracked. The mad tyrant mentally cut off from the world, who enslaved my people, in his desire to enslave the neighboring one, attacked Ukraine. Millions of Russians sympathize with Ukraine and are deeply shocked by this war. Only fools and paid enthusiasts here demonstrate their rapture about this awful crime.
I am a half-breed, my grandmothers, aunt and uncle, my sister live in Ukraine, in Kharkov. Every day I worry about their lives and health. This war for me is not an empty phrase, not something very distant. I’m scared, I’m hurt, I’m ashamed, I’m angry, I’m tired.
I wish Ukraine (and Russia, of course) peace, freedom and happiness. I believe in justice for war criminals and I look forward to it.
However, this is not the first war in the world. This is not the first time blood has been shed, not the first time evil has been done.
Did Blizzard leave the US when they attacked Iraq in 2003? No. Did Blizzard leave France when they attacked Libya? No. Did Blizzard leave China when they took away the rights of the Uyghurs? Also no. Why?
Maybe they support violence? Maybe they love war not only in games? Maybe they treat people of different nationalities differently? I do not think so.
I think Blizzard has always been able to draw a line between the greed of politicians, the brutality of the military, the arrogance of propagandists on the one hand, and the entire nation on the other. No particular Russian, American, German or Jew can cast a shadow on their race, their nationality, their religion - even if there are vilians personally.
What do we see now? Russians, regardless of their views, work and age, from children to the elderly, are deprived of the right to purchase Blizzard products, to renew a WoW subscription, even to download free Diablo Immortal.
Because of what? Because of their nationality? Do you think this will stop the war? Do you think this will worry Putin? Seriously?
No, you Had just decided in the context of cancellation culture to cancel an entire nation. My nation. But this is conceptual evil - to punish millions of innocents along with thousands of guilty ones. Many people do not understand your act, they are disappointed, they are offended. Previously, they played Warcraft, and now, after losing this opportunity, they may believe in the conspiracy of the West against Russia, invented by Russian propaganda - and bloody wheel of violence will keep moving. I don’t think it matches your values. Stay above the empty hype.
You want to support Ukraine - and so do I. Announce publicly that a percentage of your income in Russia (or all income) will go to help Ukrainian refugees, wounded, children. After that, war fanatics will not buy anything from you, and good people will do a good deed and keep access to good games. Many will avoid propaganda and war. Art should serve the cause of peace, and your games are art, aren’t they?
The Alliance didn’t cancel the Horde after either Garrosh or Sylvanas, who were terrible war criminals. Alliance did not devalue the nations. They understood that all of them should live together on the same planet and fight the world’s evil together. You teach us this. But what about yourself?
Think about all this. Please.
Sincerely yours, Nikita