Esports, and their leagues, are ever evolving as everyone tries to figure out how in the world this will all work. This includes changes to various codes of conduct, like that of the Overwatch League. It was meant to be posted online by Overwatch League commissioner Nate Nanzer. Months later, Richard Lewis, an esports broadcaster, is the one who actually came through on this.
Overwatch League’s code of conduct is summarized on the official website , but the actual booklet is much more expansive. The rules for Overwatch League members are strict, all-inclusive, and cover a lot of different subjects. Players are being required to watch every single thing they do at all times when they are in a public space. They’re also supposed to reign in their fans, to prevent the fans from breaking Blizzard’s code of conduct as well. Here’s a quick excerpt from the code of conduct that explains what Overwatch League players need to be careful of:
“In no event may any streaming include any video game content, actions, comments, language or other material that could be expected to bring any Player, the League, any of its Teams, any direct or indirect owner of any Team, any executive or other employee of the League, Activision Blizzard or any of its games, products and services or any broadcaster, distributor, sponsor, licensee or other buisiness partner of the League of any of its Teams into Disrepute.”
That run on sentence has a lot going on. “Disrepute” in the context of the code of conduct includes everything from scandal, ridicule, shock, and offense by the way. This means players cannot speak or even allude to anything “political, violent, threatening, discriminatory, harassing or defamatory…” In other words, Overwatch League players need to be perfect angels 100% of the time.
The Overwatch League code of conduct also gives Blizzard the right to use any Player’s likeness for pretty much anything they see fit. This even includes the integration of cameras in every Team House room except the bathroom. Blizzard’s clearly ramping up for a possible reality television show. According to a spokesperson at Overwatch League, the players have had access to this code of conduct from the beginning. And all of its changes have been made with feedback from said players.
Source: Kotaku