The change of heart came after Markiplier (aka Mark Fischbach) posted a video illustrating both how trivial the bans were, examples of denied appeals and the consequences for some users. As he explained, this didn’t just kick people out of chat. It affected entire Google accounts — people lost videos, channel memberships or access to important services they needed, all because they spammed several emotes in one line. He also blasted YouTube for claiming that appeals were carefully reviewed, noting that there was at least one instance where someone succeeded with an appeal, and was almost immediately banned again for seemingly no reason.

We’ve asked YouTube if it can comment beyond the initial promise of reinstating accounts.

The incident highlights the complications and limitations of YouTube’s approach to moderation. While the sheer size of YouTube virtually mandates some form of automated policing, it’s not guaranteed to correctly interpret everything (especially if it’s asked to be particularly strict). This also suggests that human moderation isn’t applied as consistently as many would expect. And it’s hard to ignore comparisons with services like Twitch and Mixer, where emote spam is not only allowed but sometimes encouraged — Twitch streamers can set their channels to an emote-only mode, for example. YouTube may feel pressure to adjust its policies, if just to prevent streamers from jumping ship.

And yes, there will be gaming discussions. Google’s Phil Harrison will talk about the Stadia cloud gaming service at 2:30PM Eastern, while it’s safe to say there will be plenty of chats surrounding the day’s news. You’ll hear more about the schedule in the “coming days,” Keighley said.

This is the fifth year of YouTube’s live E3 coverage. It’s far from a novelty. However, it might be one of the more important streams to date. Microsoft might spill the beans on its next Xbox, and there’s a good chance it will talk in-depth about its game streaming service. Bethesda, meanwhile, could talk about everything from the imminent Wolfenstein: Youngblood to long-term projects like Elder Scrolls VI. Add in the remaining mystery surrounding Stadia and there could be plenty of buzz even if you don’t care for the in-between entertainment.