We’ve all experienced it at some point: you join an online game and almost immediately you have multiple people hurling insults at you. If you’re a woman, it’s likely the insults are even more degrading. For a while, toxic gamers have tried to downplay it, saying it happens to everyone, that it’s part of the game, that you should just accept it, that it’s their culture and it must be respected. However, Xbox has said, “Enough is enough.” And thank goodness for that.
Red card and go to sleep
Now, every action against accounts that violate community standards will accumulate, allowing each player to know how close they are to being an absolute jerk. Or, in gamer terms, getting permanently banned. It’s a bit like a driver’s license points system: it’s not the same to hit someone as it is to drive too slowly on a highway. This way, gamers will have eight points that they will spend as they commit foolish acts.
If a player receives two warnings, they will be suspended from playing multiplayer (including messages and chat) for one day. If they receive four warnings, it’s a one-week suspension. If they receive eight warnings, it’s a one-year suspension. Of course, we all believe in redemption and good behavior: after six months, the warnings will disappear and people may return to playing online, hopefully as civilized individuals.
Microsoft is clearly taking the task of creating a welcoming environment for everyone seriously: in July, they introduced the ability to record clips of voice chats that violate community standards. However, Xbox clarifies that it’s highly unlikely to get banned unless you exhibit behavior that’s beyond acceptable limits.
In 2022, less than one percent of players were temporarily suspended, and only a third of that percentage repeated their offenses. Even though it might seem like treating them as if they were children on the playground, one thing is clear: ultimately, threats sadly work when your idea of fun involves insulting another person. It’s something that needs serious consideration.
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