Blizzard lays its cards on the table with more Hearthstone bans

By Taylor Lyles Updated October 31, 2019

It’s no surprise that the controversy surrounding Overwatch developer Blizzard has been one of the hottest gaming topics within the last week. From the controversy surrounding Chung “Blitzchung” Ng Wai to the company canceling a Nintendo Switch event promoting the recent release of Overwatch on Nintendo’s hybrid console, Blizzard can’t stop making headlines.

The company is now facing more backlash after it announced it issued a ban on three collegiate Hearthstone players from American University after the competitors held a sign that read “Free Hong Kong, Boycott Blizz” during an official competition stream.

Blizzard Protesting by American University

Vice Games first reported on the story. Much like Blitzchung’s ban, the Hearthstone players Casey Chambers, Corwin Dark, and a third player who goes by the alias TJammer have been banned from playing the popular card game for six months. Chambers took to Twitter last night to share the email he received from a member of the Hearthstone team at Blizzard, which states that the entire team has received a ban for breaking the company’s official rules.

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

Specifically, the company mentioned that the team violated a section of the rules, which concern sportsmanlike conduct. The company’s guidelines state that all players must refrain from undertaking in any gestures that may be considered offensive to a group of people or could enable other individuals to act in a way that is considered “abusive, insulting, mocking, or disruptive.”

The team’s ban is the newest layer in a series of protests being held across the globe regarding Blizzard Entertainment. Blizzard has remained somewhat silent regarding the Hong Kong controversy, with the company’s most recent statement issued less than a week ago. Of course, Blizzard is just one of many companies facing backlash for its relationship with China after civil unrest arose in Hong Kong. Since then, many gaming developers have also expressed their stance on the subject, including Fortnite developer Epic Games.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Based out of Baltimore, Maryland, Taylor is a contributing writer for Digital Trends covering the latest news in the computer…

Gaming

Blizzard rolls back penalties against blitzchung, but damage already done

Hearthstone player Chung Ng Wai

Blizzard has broken its silence after suspending Hearthstone player Chung "blitzchung" Ng Wai for voicing his support for the Hong Kong protesters standing up against the Chinese government, but it appears that the damage has already been done.

In a statement posted on Blizzard's website, the developer and publisher's President, J. Allen Brack, said blitzchung's suspension was reduced from one year to six months, and that he would be allowed to keep the prize money he earned at the event where he expressed is pro-Hong Kong stance. The broadcasters who interviewed blitzchung also saw their suspensions reduced by the same amount of time.

Gaming

Why Blizzard suspending a Hearthstone player over Hong Kong support is bad

Hearthstone player Chung Ng Wai

On October 6, professional Hearthstone player Chung Ng Wai won a match in the Hearthstone Grandmasters competition and used a postgame interview to voice his support for protestors currently voicing their frustration with Hong Kong and the Chinese government. Shortly thereafter, Blizzard removed him from the competition, revoked his winnings, and suspended him from all Hearthstone esports competitions for a year. The broadcasters who interviewed him were also fired.

It was an immensely controversial punishment that doesn't seem to fit the crime -- if you can even call it that. If anything, it only shows how Blizzard's current rules can be manipulated to suit the needs of those with their own agenda in the company.

Gaming

How to revive dead companions in Baldur’s Gate 3

Withers offering services to the player in Baldur's Gate 3.

You're given a good bit of leeway during battles in Baldur's Gate 3 before you or a companion actually bites the dust for good. While in battle, if a teammate does take enough damage to drop, they aren't dead then and there. Instead, they will be downed with a chance to roll every turn to get back up. If they roll successfully three times, the battle ends, or you use another character to pick them up, they're good. If they fail that roll three times, however, they will be completely dead. That can be harsh when you've become attached to certain characters and want to further their stories, so you'll be looking for any way you can to bring them back. Thankfully you do have a few options for reviving companions in Baldur's Gate 3, but just like respeccing, they aren't so obvious.
Pay Withers to bring them back

Withers is a friendly undead you can find in a secret room in the Dank Crypt found inside the Overgrown Ruins. After finding and speaking to him in his sarcophagus, he will offer you various services, one of which is bringing back any dead companions. He won't do this out of the kindness of his heart (probably because it isn't beating) and will charge you a heavy fine of 200 gold to do so. Still, that's a small price to pay to bring back a beloved character. Once paid, that character will appear in your camp where they would normally be, so there's no need to go back to their corpse and find them.
Use a scroll of Revivfy or learn it