Will BlizzCon become the latest battleground for the Hong Kong protests?

Fans angry at Hearthstone and Overwatch developer Blizzard say they plan to dress up as Hong Kong protesters and political leaders, but it’s not clear how many will actually show up

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Some people online have turned the Chinese Overwatch character Mei into a protest figure, and rally organizer Gamers for Freedom used this picture as suggested cosplay for BlizzCon. (Picture: Gamers for Freedom)

Josh Ye

Published: 4:59pm, 4 Nov 2019Updated: 4:59pm, 4 Nov 2019

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Tarsa Yuen has a vested interest in this year’s BlizzCon, and it’s not just about the games.

“I want [Hong Kong’s] protest anthems to be chanted during the event,” she said.

Yuen is a Hong Kong-American high school student who will be tuning in for this year’s BlizzCon, the annual conference in Anaheim, California held by the US game developer Blizzard. She’s just one of many who will be live-streaming online. Many others will be showing up in person to protest at the Anaheim Convention Center this weekend.

According to rally organizers, more than 4,000 Hong Kong protest-themed flyers and T-shirts are being distributed at the event. It’s not just a show of support for the ongoing anti-government protests, but also a condemnation of Blizzard’s decision to penalize an esports player for shouting a protest slogan at the end of an interview.

Software engineer Justin Gries said he plans to show up for the protest.

“This really isn't just about Hong Kong. From a broader perspective this is about the values held by many US-based companies that want to do business with China,” he said.