If Ubisoft has anything to say about it, cybercriminals will be forced to reconsider their behavior and learn good manners.
On the heels Zero Harm Communications Campaign.in which Ubisoft and Riot collect data to help keep post-game chats clean, Ubisoft has announced a special anti-harassment course.
The Fair Play program is “designed to benefit players of all genres, from multiplayer FPS to single-player RPGs,” says Brittany Spurlin, Ubisoft writer announcement post (opens in a new tab).
“Gamers may see cheating as disruptive behavior,” adds Director of Player Safety Jeremy Marchadier. “But talking abusively in chat, harassing other players, or even not following the team leader when playing competitively are also disruptive behaviors.”
By helping gamers see their own possibly toxic habits, Ubisoft is committed to making online gaming a safe place for everyone.
Check yourself
With many companies and game studios tackling toxic gamer culture this year “It’s important to manage the emotional aspect of gaming,” says Marchadier, which is at the heart of many of the internet troll’s nasty words.
“The modules are designed to help players understand the situations that cause negative behavior,” writes Spurlin. “[As well as] the very behaviors and influence they have on other players.”
Taught through a series of videos and on-screen text based quizzes, Fair Play “aims to teach by example, not give an exact definition of toxic behavior with no room for nuance.”
It will also feature interviews with professional esports players and coaches, each sharing their own experiences of online harassment to show how creating a positive atmosphere benefits everyone – not just the people you’re playing with at the moment.
Leading by example
Trolls and bullies are a very thorny and persistent problem in online gaming. pressure to not to be a “noob” still prevents many from taking advantage of online gaming opportunities, even with A series of account bans on Xbox Live or PS5 voice chat reporting option.
Ubisoft is making significant strides in promoting healthy interactions, but initiatives like the Fair Play Program would go much further if implemented on a larger scale. The rig landed just in time for this year’s event PlayStation tournaments; perhaps players will take some time for self-reflection before jumping into the challenge.