Blizzard under scrutiny from US lawmakers, gamers and its own employees after punishing a Hearthstone competitor who voiced support for Hong Kong protests

A single act of protest during a video-game competition in Taiwan has garnered international attention and massive backlash against one of America's largest and highest-profile video game companies.

Blizzard Entertainment is facing major criticism after punishing Blitzchung, a Hong Kong-based e-sports competitor who voiced support for Hong Kong's protesters during a Blizzard-run event on October 5.

Blitzchung, whose real name is Chung Ng Wai, is a grandmaster level player in “Hearthstone,” Blizzard's very popular digital card game. During Blizzard's official broadcast of the Asia-Pacific Grandmasters competition, Blitzchung appeared in a post-match interview wearing a gas mask. As the broadcast ended, Blitzchung shouted “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our age,” with the apparent support of the two tournament broadcasters.

The ongoing protests have already garnered international attention, with the territory's increasingly complex relationship with China's communist government as a core issue. Tencent, one of China's biggest companies and the largest video game publisher in the world, also owns a 5 per cent stake in parent company Activision Blizzard.

Blizzard responded to Blitzchung's comments by stripping him of any prize money he would have earned for the tournament, and banned him from “Hearthstone” competitions for one year. Blizzard also said it will not longer work with the two broadcasters who were interviewing Blitzchung during his comments.

The company deleted the match and interview footage from its official channels as well. “Hearthstone” has an international tour offering US$1 million in prizes for top level players this year. Blitzchung had earned at least US$3,000 from his wins so far, with the potential to earn more in the competition's playoff rounds.