Revolution of our times

[Bloomberg] [Fully Charged]( From [Bloomberg](   [FOLLOW US [Facebook Share]]( [Twitter Share]( [SUBSCRIBE [Subscribe]](  Hi. Zheping here.For more than three months, Hong Kong protesters [have taken to the streets]( to try to halt Beijing’s creeping influence over the semi-autonomous city. They’ve plastered their message in full-page ads in international newspapers, and [displayed slogans]( on Mount Everest. Now their voices are being heard in Azeroth, the fantasy realm of Blizzard’s iconic game World of Warcraft. Last weekend, as I was leveling up my character in the hyena-occupied Barrens region of Azeroth, I heard the over-and-back rallying cry commonly chanted by Hong Kong protesters: “Liberate Hong Kong,” a thief shouted. “Revolution of our times,” replied a sorcerer. In August, Blizzard launched WoW Classic, a revamped version of its 15-year-old original multi-player hit. It’s become a [resounding success](, feeding into the nostalgic yearnings of fans, including in Greater China. The game’s Taiwan server has become an unlikely virtual space where young people from mainland China, the self-governing island of Taiwan as well as Hong Kong can talk politics together -- free from the interference of censors and other state actors. This confluence is brought about in part by tech, part by pragmatic gaming considerations. The internet has long been splintered into two parallel universes by the [Great Firewall](, Beijing's complex censorship machine. But players on the mainland apparently don’t need to use a virtual private network, or VPN, to access WoW Classic’s Taiwan server. Many are attracted to faster access times as well as a more genuine community on the servers outside of mainland China, where there aren't hours-long waits and so-called gold farmers. No matter the reason, WoW Classic is unwittingly bringing people living on all sides of the wall together. That’s not to say that this virtual world -- where players star as magic-wielding elves or heavy-armored trolls to fight against demons and dragons -- isn’t tainted by ugly political realities. Soon after I heard the protesters' rally calls, I noticed some of my fellow Horde soldiers becoming irritated. The chat channel turned ugly with the inevitable slinging of insults and racial slurs. Those who wrote in the type of Chinese characters most commonly used in mainland China were taunted with highly derogatory language. But between the slogans and obscenities, I observed some interesting threads. Taiwanese players advised those from Hong Kong to blame the Chinese government rather than verbally abuse ordinary Chinese citizens. One Hong Kong gamer tried to recruit others to join him in a real-life demonstration. Some said they wanted to keep politics out of the game altogether, while others shrugged off the idea saying politics is an integral part of life. One player from the mainland said he opted to play on the Taiwan server because it offered him freedom of speech -- presumably to a degree not available in his homeland. Yet in an increasingly intolerant China, where global brands from Versace to Coach to Dolce & Gabbana have faced [the wrath of Chinese consumers](, incensed by perceived slights to their motherland, WoW Classic offers a glimmer of hope. Though at times heated, its political conversations seem relatively devoid of vitriol-spouting, state-sponsored internet crusaders, the kind frequently seen on other social media forums. Facebook and Twitter, for example, have [shut down hundreds of accounts]( which they say are part of Beijing’s propaganda campaign against Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.  China’s Communist Party may still not be savvy enough to recruit night elves and trolls to spread its agenda, allowing WoW Classic to remain -- for now at least -- an island that fosters debate. When there’s room for dialogue, there’s more scope for understanding. Even if it can only take place in Azeroth.  And here’s what you need to know in global technology news WeWork taps ‘adult in the room' and ex-Amazon executive Artie Minson as one of two co-CEOs to [replace Adam Neumann](.   You know it’s bad when even China’s hottest startups are having trouble raising capital. A trio of technology innovators has postponed or pulled back on fundraising this year after [venture capital pools dried up](.  Nintendo shares slump after [disappointing early sales]( of the Switch Lite.  Malaysia is advancing an [anti-monopoly investigation]( into Singapore-based ride-hailing startup Grab, ramping up a broader government push to bring greater competition to its economy.   Sponsored Content by [NextAdvisor]( Impressive Card Offering 0% APR Until Nearly 2021 Still own a credit card that earns you 1% cash back? It’s time for an upgrade. Learn more about the card that earns you 5% cash back in rotating categories. 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