Overwatch’s Jeff Kaplan Thinks Blitzchung’s Suspension Should Be Eliminated
Overwatch's Jeff Kaplan Thinks Blitzchung's Suspension Should Be Eliminated
Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan has expressed concerns about the punishment imposed on Hearthstone player Chung ‘blitzchung’ Ng Wai.
Talking to the Washington Post, Blizzard’s vice president and Overwatch game director said, “I was relieved when they reduced his suspension. And I think the suspension should be reduced more or eliminated. But that’s just me.”
“I’m obviously a huge supporter of free speech,” he added. “It’s something that’s very important to me. It got to me personally. I think the punishment was too harsh and I was greatly relieved when they gave his money back. I think that was extremely important.”
Kaplan explained that the Overwatch team has had to deal with player suspensions before, and that it “usually” takes four or five days to reach a decision. But, as Blizzard president J. Allen Brack said in the opening ceremony of BlizzCon 2019, the company “moved too quickly” in regards to blitzchung’s punishment.
However, Kaplan is clear that the reduction of blitzchung’s suspension from 12 months to six isn’t enough for his personal beliefs. He does note, though, that his opinion isn’t shared unanimously by everyone at Blizzard.
“I think as individuals, we all have very different feelings about what happened in regards to the Hearthstone tournament and blitzchung,” Kaplan said. “There is a lot of very different reaction among all of us.”
However, Kaplan is clear that the reduction of blitzchung’s suspension from 12 months to six isn’t enough for his personal beliefs. He does note, though, that his opinion isn’t shared unanimously by everyone at Blizzard.
“I think as individuals, we all have very different feelings about what happened in regards to the Hearthstone tournament and blitzchung,” Kaplan said. “There is a lot of very different reaction among all of us.”
