Microsoft Will Warn You If You’re Being a Dick on the Xbox One

How soon before it can warn you that you're being a dick IRL?
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No one wants to play online with a jerk, so if you get yourself a reputation as one, then Microsoft wants to let you know. They’ve introduced a new system where Xbox One players will be warned when their online reputation “needs work.”

The warnings will begin rolling out this week based on Xbox Live feedback that’s been collected since launch. So if you’ve been a jerk this whole time, you’re likely about to hear about it. Though, a blog post by Xbox Live Program Manager Michael Dunn says that the majority of players have a “good” reputation and won’t have to worry.

So what exactly are the warnings about? Dunn writes:

Beginning this month, some players will start receiving reputation warnings as their reputations drop due to feedback from the community. The purpose of these communications is to remind players about their effect on the community and encourage them to have more positive interactions. These warnings are based on community feedback collected since Xbox One launched.

The expectation is that players who receive these warnings will think long and hard about their online behavior. If they don’t, they can face some penalties:

If players do not heed warnings and continue to have a negative impact on other players and the Xbox Live community, they will begin to experience penalties. For example, people with an “Avoid Me” rating will have reduced matchmaking pairings and may be unable to use certain privileges such as Twitch broadcasting.

It’s nice to see Microsoft taking steps to make playing video games online with strangers a more pleasant experience. Be nice online, everyone.

(Microsoft via Engadget, image via Microsoft)

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Glen Tickle
Glen is a comedian, writer, husband, and father. He won his third-grade science fair and is a former preschool science teacher, which is a real job.