Blizzard president apologizes for 'failure' in Hong Kong debacle

BlizzCon, Blizzard Entertainment's annual convention, opened with an apology from Blizzard president J. Allen Brack regarding the company's decision to punish a professional Hearthstone player who voiced support for Hong Kong protesters on a Blizzard stream.

"When I think about how most unhappy I am, I think about two things," Brack said. "We didn’t live up to the higher standards we set for ourselves. Second, we failed in our purpose. For that, I am sorry, and I accept accountability."

Brack acknowledged that the company acted too quickly when it banned the player Chung "Blitzchung" Ng Wai and took away his earnings for speaking out, acknowledged that the company took too long to respond to complaints from around the world, and acknowledged that the company needed to do better in the future.

"We will do better going forward and our actions will prove it," Brack said. "It is everyone’s right to express themselves in all places."

Still, Brack did not say that Blizzard would be going back and changing the decisions it made. While they may be more careful going forward, it doesn't appear that the company has actually made up for its hasty and poorly received decision from October.

Blizzard's decision to quickly punish Blitzchung was seen as the company siding with the government of China, although Blizzard referenced its own competition rule against "engaging in any act that, in Blizzard’s sole discretion, brings you into public disrepute, offends a portion or group of the public, or otherwise damages Blizzard image."

Blizzard can safely say that Blitzchung's actions offended a portion of the public, but the harsh actions the company took seemed like a step too far for many.