I have played Blizzard games for years. I remember coming home from school with friends and logging on to Starcraft or Diablo and just having a good time. I have loved the content they have put out (up until the last couple years tbh).
It’s a sad fact that politics and business coincide the way in which they do; especially on a global scale in a global market. This seems to be something other than politics entirely though. Let’s give a hypothetical example:
Joe-Shmo from the US wins a hearthstone tournament and calls for the Freedom of Americans from the rule of the Tyrant Trump.
What would happen? I would wager to say absolutely nothing. Not only have things like this been said since the beginning of the Trump administration, but it is a political view based on personal and social perspective. I’m proud to be a member of a nation that has the freedom of speech, and the power to express it. I have fought for our country. I have brought my kids up with the values that I believe in. I have played Blizzard games partly because I believe they held those values as well.
I am very sorry to say that I can no longer in good faith support games in the Blizzard library. I have recently cancelled my WoW sub and stopped playing.
I don’t think it’s too late for you (Blizzard) to make things better. You can turn things around. Revoke your punishments on the players and casters. Admit that you are wrong. Admit that your business models have moved in a direction of profit over all else. If you don’t, this will be your downfall. You will lose more customers. You will lose the families and employees that bought into what you’ve fed them. You will lose market share and repeat customers.
Wake up guys.