The Overwatch esports scene has worldwide reach, with teams on every continent. With players competing from all over, and fans in every country, occasionally issues relating to politics creep into the dialogue. Countries that have strict censorship policies can make it difficult for esports competitors and streamers in general. Korean Overwatch pro Jong-ryeol "Saebyeolbe" Park has caused ire amongst his Overwatch League competitors in China for comments made about Taiwan and Hong Kong, and now a boycott from Chinese players might be imminent.
Censorship in China is a thorny issue, and one that is difficult for the video game industry to navigate. Developers and publishers want to do business in the country, but struggle with the stifling of free speech that is sometimes required to get a game approved for release. Overwatch is just the latest arena for this to show up, as last fall it was another Activision Blizzard property facing censorship. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War had a trailer banned from China for featuring a clip of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
Park, an Overwatch pro with the Seoul Dynasty, has come under fire for expressing opinions regarding Taiwan and Hong Kong, frustrated that he can't even say their names without being reprimanded. Park streams to Chinese streaming platform Douyu, and has been informed by his management to not discuss the two disputed territories, as China claims sovereignty over them and refuses to acknowledge any narrative to the contrary. This is a particularly hot button issue within the gaming world, as in-game text in Genshin Impact automatically censors any attempt to type in 'Taiwan' or 'Hong Kong.'
Furthermore, players on several Chinese Overwatch League teams—the Shanghai Dragons, Chengdu Hunters, Hangzhou Spark, and Guangzhou Charge— have come out and said that they will not participate in upcoming events if Park is a competitor. A manager for the Shanghai Dragons posted a lengthy statement on Weibo, doubling down on the One China policy. This government doctrine does not recognize Taiwan or Hong Kong as independent from China. The Dragons' manager going on to say that politics have no place in gaming. The irony that boycotting something is a political act seemingly lost here. PewDiePie was banned from China after sympathizing with the Hong Kong protests in 2019, so the issue has long been a sore spot for the Chinese government.
Whether the boycott happens, or if Activision Blizzard steps in to defuse the situation, remains to be seen. Due to the popularity of Overwatch in China, an issue like this could strain the relationship between Activision Blizzard and China, as the publishing giant tries to make inroads into the country. Call of Duty Mobile is a hit in China, and potentially losing out on revenue over streamers making political points that run counter to China's narrative makes the whole situation a bit of a powder keg.
Overwatch is available now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
Source: Kotaku