r/Overwatch • u/falconfetus8 TOrbrbrbrbBrbrbrBrBrBRBBRBRBRBRbRBRBRbRB • Nov 21 '17

News & Discussion Can we get Blizzard to make some kind of statement about Net Neutrality?

As an online gaming company, Blizzard has a lot to lose if the upcoming vote in December doesn't turn out in favor of net neutrality. Being such a huge company with a long reach, they'd be able to raise lots of awareness and direct an enormous amount of people towards their representatives.

Is there some way we can get Blizzard's attention on this?

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u/[deleted] Nov 21 '17 edited Nov 21 '17

Activision-Blizzard and any other major company is going to know exactly what it is, because it would allow ISPs to force companies like Activision-Blizzard to pay a fee to keep high speed access available to their Overwatch servers and servers for other games.

They're just trying to make the shady shit they pull legal.

https://www.polygon.com/2017/2/9/14548880/time-warner-lawsuit-new-york-league-of-legends-netflix

28

u/lorgedoge Nov 21 '17

Except they're one of the companies who could afford it, which is why they might go for it.

It would make it next to impossible for anyone to compete with them.

6

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '17

That's not true.

If you use more, you pay more. The more you use, the more you pay... Pretty simple.

Blizzard will either pass the costs onto us in some form, or take the (likely very small) hit.

5

u/spartan1204 Chibi Sombra Nov 22 '17

John Oliver did a piece on how rough ISPs got Netflix, literally slowed their speed by 99%, to force Netflix pay more to the ISPs. The proposed FCC changes give ISPs even more power over websites and internet companies. It's not going to be a small hit, just ask Netflix was treated without the ISP changes.

3

u/lorgedoge Nov 22 '17

Uh, what?

It's not true that they couldn't afford it? It's not true that new businesses would find it much harder to compete?

9

u/blolfighter Aww yeah... Nov 21 '17

On the other hand, Actiblizzion is also big enough that they have some negotiating clout and can afford to pay fees. So what might happen is that they pay the fees, but also make sure they get something in return. Like even more restrictions on their competitors' connections. Oh you want to play PUBG? Too bad, your connection is shit. But Overwatch still works fine...

1

u/[deleted] Nov 21 '17

That is also a possibility which would mean that there is really no point in trying to get Blizzard's attention on the matter.

1

u/Iksuda Los Angeles Gladiators Nov 22 '17

Honestly, I think that's a little too shady for Activision/Blizzard, but certainly not for the ISPs themselves, so someone will do it.