14 DAY TRIAL // American politics is slowly creeping into Overwatch as Blizzard decides to crack down on Pepe the Frog meme usage.
It might seem weird to discuss politics and Overwatch in the same context. Banning people in online multiplayer games is something common, and it happens all the time. On the other hand, banning the use of a meme is way down on the list of punishable offenses.
Before the 2016 presidential elections in the United States, Pepe the Frog was not all that well-known, and it had a very different meaning. It was originally created by artist Matt Furie, and it was defined at the "Feels Good Man" meme.
The meme was appropriated the far-right movement in the United States and associated with the MAGA slogan. It caught on, and it’s still being used to this day in the same manner, despite the efforts of its creator to stop it.
Pepe in Overwatch?
Since Overwatch is a global phenomenon with hundreds of thousands of players, it stands to reason that some people were using it in different contexts. It might not have been such a big deal if it only appeared online, in matches, but prolific players in eSport tournaments also used it.
According to a report on Dot Esports, Blizzard doesn’t want any kind of charged political statements associated with their company or the game, so they have begun to crack down on the use of Pepe. It started with the top players, the audience, and it’s probably trickling down to the online as well.
It’s worth mentioning that an Overwatch League's Code of Conduct does exist and it covers pretty much everything. What’s more important is that Blizzard basically has the power of a God when it comes to this kind of decision, and even if some players feel that they are treated unfairly, the company will never back down from a decision such as this one.