7 Video Game Developer Reputations That Died This Generation

3. Blizzard

It was all going so well for Blizzard.

A Hearthstone here, an Overwatch there. They even got millions of MMORPG newbies into the genre with Heroes of the Storm.

Then 2018 happened, and in one fell swoop - literally, one build-up to Blizzcon and a disappointment later - they were irrevocably tied to mobile gaming, and a lack of quality control across the board.

Of course, the biggest cross-continental disaster that at time of writing, is still unfolding, is what I'll call, "the Hong Kong situation".

Now, we're yet to feel the full ramifications of Hong Kong's quest for independence surrounded by a country that wants to change their entire way of life, but Blizzard not allowing a streamer to vouch approval for the movement put them slap-bang in the middle of it.

Coming after notable Hearthstone streamer Wai Chung Ng (known as "Blitzchung") ended a tournament stream by saying "Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution of our age!", Blizzard responded by stripping him of his winnings, and banning him from playing for months.

Naturally, being Blizzard are based primarily and initially out of the U.S., it blew up into a major international incident, as free speech is of course protected in America.

Blizzard would then go on to ban more streamers for siding with Blitzchung's sentiments, only for a swathe of American politicians to pen a letter, "urging" Bobby Kotick and his company to rethink their strategy, considering how it looks on the global stage.

Regardless of all this, we now have a company who were formerly seen as one of the industry's most treasured darlings, peeled away to reveal an entity that puts money above personal rights and values when it matters most.