Blizzard addresses growing ‘Overwatch’ player toxicity problem

Digital Trends ^ | 9/14/2017 | Gabe Gurwin

[sparklite2]

Overwatch continues to be one of the best multiplayer shooters around, but since its launch last year, the game has seen a growing problem with player toxicity and abuse. Blizzard has now pledged to address this issue head on, outlining its plans in a new developer update video.

Thus far, more than 340,000 reported incidents have resulted in disciplinary action of some kind, and an additional 140,000 players have been disciplined for their actions in the game, as well.

In terms of specifics, Blizzard is planning to permanently ban repeat offenders from playing in competitive matches again. Abusers will also be getting banned from competitive play much sooner than before, so there won’t be as much leeway for making a rude comment — follow the simple rule of not saying anything at all if what you’re going to say is mean.

[sparklite2]

Why we can't have nice things.

[KarlInOhio]

Kill by the thousands, but do it politely.

[sparklite2]

not saying anything at all if what you’re going to say is mean.

---

If you can’t say something nice about someone, come sit by me.
——— Dorothy Parker

[Tax-chick]

My son plays Overwatch.

[KC_Lion]

What Babies.

When Halo 2 came out in 2004 I was in High School and we had LAN parties (remember those?), well let's just say that 20 Sixteen year old boys, we said things that would make Sailors and Bob Saget blush.

[sparklite2]

What does he think about the ‘toxicity?’

[FreedomStar3028]

It’s pretty toxic. Some of the things people say. But that’s why there is a block feature. So Blizzard shouldn’t have to do anything, players can mute voice, mute chat, and BLOCK other players. I just don’t see the problem with “abusive” chat in games, because there are plenty ways for players to not get sworn at and called names besides banning PAYING CUSTOMERS.

[JohnyBoy]

Trashing talk has always been part of online games, sports, ect.

[Tax-chick]

I have not asked, but I imagine he is utterly indifferent to it. Tom the Son, who is 20, has stratospheric levels of self-confidence and doesn’t give a flying freep what anyone says to or about him. Sometimes I’m absolutely in awe, and I wonder how someone like me - overthinking and self-critical and terribly anxious about everyone else’s needs - produced this person.

He’s also 6’4”, 275#, looks like a bear, and can survive in the wilderness with nothing but a toothpick. I will absolutely stay close to him if the Global Economic Collapse hits!

[cherry]

you know you're really old when you have never even heard of anything these people are talking about...

happily....

[Bullish]

Overwatch is a very fun game and very well done by Blizzard. Trolling is a big problem though in all of these type of games that allows players to chat. Some people just get their kicks by being rude, profane and vicious to other players. I think it’s mostly caused by immature players who haven’t learned how to be civil yet and think they’re being clever by being assholes.

[FreedomStar3028]

I’ve played Overwatch, haven’t pklayed for awhile.

I didn’t think it was that toxic when I was playing.

I play League of Legends for a long time and THAT game was toxic.

If you are in a game and your team loses and you perform poorly you can get piled on. It IS in fact pretty bad the things people say. I’ve heard people drop tons of racial slurs, and just freak out on other players for playing badly, or “throwing the match”, etc. Literally the worst things you can say to someone. I’ve been told to kill myself, that they were going to hack my computer, that they are going to find me and kill me and my family. Also all the bad words and phrases you can think of. The most vulgar of things you can think of.

It is pretty bad. But there are block features. Blizzard doesn’t have to ban paying customers, but they’ve been doing that for years for multitudes of reasons. My account got hacked years ago playing World of Warcraft and all my gold sent to a “gold seller”, Blizzard banned my account. Said I was selling in game currency. I had to go through loops to get it un-banned, but they did restore all my items and in game stuff.

I think it’s fair to ban toxic players but only the very very very toxic ones.

[z3n]

“What Babies.

When Halo 2 came out in 2004 I was in High School and we had LAN parties (remember those?), well let’s just say that 20 Sixteen year old boys, we said things that would make Sailors and Bob Saget blush.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is partially true. I’m not convinced that people are particularly more thin-skinned than they used to be. You’ll always have a segment that is more sensitive than others, and even those who aren’t would probably prefer not to be harassed and offended and focus on the game play and whatever more-or-less positive social interaction that it also involves.

I do think that people now seem to have an ever growing sense of entitlement to be protected and insulated from people’s negativity and “micro-aggression” *eye roll*
In fact, I would say that people’s growing sense of social entitlement is the cause of a lot of problems today

[FreedomStar3028]

It’s not trash talk though.

This is beyond trash talk. I’ve had people yell at me for minutes during matches in online games, call me racial slurs, threaten my family, tell me to kill myself, say the most vulgar things they can think of. Those players are toxic.

A little trash talk is fine, but “toxic” refers to people that make you feel disgusted by just being in the match with them because of their attitudes. People will literally get mad and then “throw” matches for multitudes of reasons. Just go on youtube and search “toxic online player.” You’ll see all sorts of nasty disgusting things.

When I played eve people would link the most disgusting pictures and all sorts of disgusting stuff.

[Bob]

What a surprise —

The article’s subhead: “...will lead to a more inclusive and kinder community...”. Oh, goodie, inclusive. /s

[sparklite2]

Sounds a lot like Usenet with pictures. LOL

[Tax-chick]

Tom the Son, who just passed through on his way to his evening college class, says that he is aware of “toxic” players, but it’s never occurred to him to let that sort of thing bother him.

[CtBigPat]

I haven't played the game, but I have enjoyed the fan art. Especially Mei.

[sparklite2]

From your previous description of him, I’m not surprised he’s immune to it. :)

[sparklite2]

Damn, that lookalike is good.