Thursday, August 17th 2023

Xbox Introduces Enforcement Strike System

We are constantly improving our safety measures and bringing more systems and tools in place that empower players to respectfully interact with one another - because everyone deserves a place to comfortably be themselves online, free from harassment and bullying. One of the most common questions we get from players through feedback, posts, and appeals is how repeated enforcements impact their gameplay, how they escalate, what they escalate to, and how they know when their account is back in good standing. To help address this, we are introducing a new enforcement strike system.

The new system attaches strikes to every enforcement, ranging in severity based on inappropriate activity. Each player will now have a view of their enforcement history including strikes and the overall impact these have on their player record. This revised system gives players a better understanding of enforcement severity and the cumulative effect of multiple enforcements. Enforcement transparency is about giving players clarity into how their behavior impacts their experience. Our content moderation efforts are not changing as a result of the new enforcement strike system.
As always, when a player believes they have witnessed a violation of Xbox's Community Standards, we encourage them to report. All reports are evaluated, there are no automated enforcement actions based solely on the fact that a report was made. No volume of inaccurate reports results in an enforcement. Only reports that have been reviewed by the Xbox Safety Team and determined to be accurate result in an enforcement.

With the new system, enforcements will also include strikes based on the severity of their actions. The system is similar to demerit strikes used in driver's license systems in many countries. For example, a player that has received two strikes will be suspended from the platform for one day, whereas a player that receives four strikes will be suspended for seven days. Players have a total of eight strikes and, once reached, will be suspended from Xbox's social features like messaging, parties and party chat, multiplayer and others for one year from the enforcement date. All strikes received stay on a player's record for six months. Today, players will all begin with a blank slate, or zero strikes. Any previous enforcements, such as suspensions, must still be completed; new enforcements as of today will result in strikes.

With these changes, Xbox is evolving enforcement to focus on protecting players. This is why even suspended accounts remain functional for single-player experiences and players do not lose access to purchased content. However, for the most serious violations - including illegal activity - Xbox retains the ability to permanently suspend all functionality of an account including access to purchases.


In 2022, fewer than 1% of all players received a temporary suspension, and only 1/3 of those received a second. Our data shows us that players typically stop inappropriate behavior after one enforcement, quickly learning what is and is not acceptable based on the Xbox Community Standards and how to better engage on our platform. The strike system is designed to further empower players to engage positively and appropriately on Xbox and with the community. We'll share data and updates in our bi-annual Transparency Report.

Below is a visual of what players will see in their enforcement history:
Like before, players will still have the ability to appeal eligible enforcements. Where applicable, if an enforcement is reversed, the corresponding strike will be removed. For more information, visit the FAQ on Xbox Support.
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48 Comments on Xbox Introduces Enforcement Strike System

#1
Dan.G
Reminds me of a driver's license penalties...
Posted on Reply
#2
Vayra86
The internet and the thought police are so so close together aren't they

Damned if you do, damned if you don't
Posted on Reply
#3
LabRat 891
How Inspiring
I've just implemented my own Enforcement Strike System, and "Xbox" just got moved from Shadow Banned, to Permanent Ban.
Posted on Reply
#4
Unregistered
I wonder what profanity means exactly, Americans tend to use their own morality as standard not accounting for other countries and cultures.

Then hate speech? What does that mean?, probably it will be again based on some random rubbish, probably it would ok to insult Chinese, Russians, Arabs, Muslims.... the usual "enemies" but God forbids if you say anything about Jews, Ukrainians... the "friends".

But at the same time it's their platform, they are allowed to enforce their biases.
#6
Verpal
The bright side is at least they are being transparent about it, as for actual enforcement..... hopefully it is timely and fair.
Posted on Reply
#7
Nater
This won't be abused at all.
Posted on Reply
#8
RamiHaidafy
LabRat 891How Inspiring
I've just implemented my own Enforcement Strike System, and "Xbox" just got moved from Shadow Banned, to Permanent Ban.
How macho.

No one cares. Enjoy games and don't be toxic to others. It's not that hard.
Posted on Reply
#9
R-T-B
FahadHow macho.

No one cares. Enjoy games and don't be toxic to others. It's not that hard.
Xbox has always been a toxic wasteland. I'm glad they are trying to clean it up, but they have a long road ahead of them if they want to ever acomplish much.
Posted on Reply
#10
Tropick
R-T-BXbox has always been a toxic wasteland. I'm glad they are trying to clean it up, but they have a long road ahead of them if they want to ever acomplish much.
I think they just have to be realistic in their goals. Getting a bunch of pissed off, over caffeinated, adderall raging 15 year olds to conform to their ideal corporate behavioral standards is an exercise in futility. "Enforcement Stacking User Journey" definitely leads me to believe they have some skewed ideas on how people will respond to stuff like this. I'm glad they're being transparent with how the strike system works but I sure hope no employees have the success of this project tied to their quarterly performance reports...
Posted on Reply
#11
Zareek
This seems more than fair to me. Maybe even a bit too lenient.
Posted on Reply
#12
ViperXZ
A good player protection system / anti toxicity system is very important as too many players are very toxic in MP games and this has to be battled against.
Posted on Reply
#13
TheinsanegamerN
ViperXZA good player protection system / anti toxicity system is very important as too many players are very toxic in MP games and this has to be battled against.
Learn how to use the mute button or grow thicker skin.
Posted on Reply
#14
ViperXZ
TheinsanegamerNLearn how to use the mute button or grow thicker skin.
Nah, but you sound like one of those the system is meant to protect me against.

This system is meant to prevent players from being toxic (again and again), has nothing to do with your statement anyway.
Posted on Reply
#15
TheinsanegamerN
Xex360I wonder what profanity means exactly, Americans tend to use their own morality as standard not accounting for other countries and cultures.

Then hate speech? What does that mean?, probably it will be again based on some random rubbish, probably it would ok to insult Chinese, Russians, Arabs, Muslims.... the usual "enemies" but God forbids if you say anything about Jews, Ukrainians... the "friends".

But at the same time it's their platform, they are allowed to enforce their biases.
This system will be SO easy to abuse. Somebody says "F!& you man" in COD? Well, file a complaint to MS, say you're a transitioning NB etc, and boom! There's a 7 day ban for the guy who you just went 0-8 against!

SURELY, in this hyper sensitive world, where everyone wants any edge they can get in anything they do, NOBODY would figure out how to abuse this system. It took all of, what, 1 minute for someone to make a bot to get private Minecraft realms banned by typing cuss words in chat?
ViperXZNah, but you sound like one of those the system is meant to protect me against.

This system is meant to prevent players from being toxic (again and again), has nothing to do with your statement anyway.
If you unironically need "protection" from mean words in video games, you need serious help and shouldnt be playing rated M games anyways.
Posted on Reply
#16
ViperXZ
TheinsanegamerNIf you unironically need "protection" from mean words in video games, you need serious help and shouldnt be playing rated M games anyways.
If you think it's that simple and downplay everything, it's good you're nobody who decides anything, and again, you surely sound like someone who the system is meant to protect me against. You seem awfully triggered by my words, maybe "grow a thicker skin".
Posted on Reply
#17
TheinsanegamerN
ViperXZIf you think it's that simple and downplay everything, it's good you're nobody who decides anything, and again, you surely sound like someone who the system is meant to protect me against. You seem awfully triggered by my words, maybe "grow a thicker skin".
"Oh no I'm literally shaking RN how can I murder hundreds of people in cold blood in my violent video game if people say MeAn WoRdS????"

LMFAO. :roll:
Posted on Reply
#18
ViperXZ
TheinsanegamerN"Oh no I'm literally shaking RN how can I murder hundreds of people in cold blood in my violent video game if people say MeAn WoRdS????"

LMFAO. :roll:
It's funny enough you assumed I still play these sorts of games. But when I do I love getting toxic players banned. They are so easily to trigger.
Posted on Reply
#19
TheinsanegamerN
ViperXZIt's funny enough you assumed I still play these sorts of games. But when I do I love getting toxic players banned. They are so easily to trigger.
Why do mean words bother you so much? Why not just mute players by default? Especially on violent rated M games, which you apparently dont play but you do play.
Posted on Reply
#20
cvaldes
The problem with muting mean words is that it doesn't discourage this behavior. There are newcomers to the platform every day: not everyone on Xbox today was playing five, ten, fifteen years ago.

This is not a conducive atmosphere to growing a healthy, inclusive community.

And this isn't the type of role models the Internet should be offering to impressionable young people. There are plenty of teenagers who see someone getting lots of "likes" by being an a-hole. So what do they do? They try to be an even bigger a-hole. Wonderful.

Would you like to move into a neighborhood where there are gun battles in the streets, dead bodies piled in doorways, burnt out vehicles littering the roads?

The Internet has already witnessed many online communities perish due to bad behavior. Xbox is now one of Microsoft's few bright lights in its consumer-facing businesses. Microsoft does not benefit from letting Xbox boil into a overflowing cauldron of toxicity. Ignoring this type of behavior simply encourages it because it ends up being a known location where it is permissible.

That turns Xbox into an online ghetto. Which is what the Internet as a whole is rapidly becoming... Look at Twitter/X and Facebook, the latter going from a students' playground to a cesspool of intolerance within the span of fifteen years.

Online communities -- like real world physical ones -- don't scale linearly. Nor do they scale effortlessly with zero curation.
Posted on Reply
#21
KrazyT
Xex360I wonder what profanity means exactly, Americans tend to use their own morality as standard not accounting for other countries and cultures.

Then hate speech? What does that mean?, probably it will be again based on some random rubbish, probably it would ok to insult Chinese, Russians, Arabs, Muslims.... the usual "enemies" but God forbids if you say anything about Jews, Ukrainians... the "friends".

But at the same time it's their platform, they are allowed to enforce their biases.
It's not ok to insult anyone !
And I hope you're wrong :/

my 2 cents : yesterday, we were playing COD multiplayer, and we lose ...
message from one guy of the other team :
- GG
- you all are gays

:rolleyes: how cannot pity this guy ?
Posted on Reply
#22
Double-Click
As long as this doesn't devolve into Sunday School XBL with zero cursing and prompt ruler smacks I'm ok with it.
I curse, but within reason and know how to read a room (don't tell me you've never been surprised or excited and yelled out "Oh F").

Also if a game is rated M the players should be allowed to speak freely as adults (minus hate speech or bullying).
Don't censor people because others choose to be irresponsible and let their children play whatever they want.

The few times I've actually seen that happen with a parent hopping on the entire lobby came together to shame them.
Posted on Reply
#23
Nater
cvaldesThe problem with muting mean words is that it doesn't discourage this behavior. There are newcomers to the platform every day: not everyone on Xbox today was playing five, ten, fifteen years ago.

This is not a conducive atmosphere to growing a healthy, inclusive community.

And this isn't the type of role models the Internet should be offering to impressionable young people. There are plenty of teenagers who see someone getting lots of "likes" by being an a-hole. So what do they do? They try to be an even bigger a-hole. Wonderful.

Would you like to move into a neighborhood where there are gun battles in the streets, dead bodies piled in doorways, burnt out vehicles littering the roads?

The Internet has already witnessed many online communities perish due to bad behavior. Xbox is now one of Microsoft's few bright lights in its consumer-facing businesses. Microsoft does not benefit from letting Xbox boil into a overflowing cauldron of toxicity. Ignoring this type of behavior simply encourages it because it ends up being a known location where it is permissible.

That turns Xbox into an online ghetto. Which is what the Internet as a whole is rapidly becoming... Look at Twitter/X and Facebook, the latter going from a students' playground to a cesspool of intolerance within the span of fifteen years.

Online communities -- like real world physical ones -- don't scale linearly. Nor do they scale effortlessly with zero curation.
The only intolerance comes from the people trying to be inclusive. "WE'RE TRYING TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE, I DON'T LIKE WHAT HE SAYS! EXCLUDE HIM!"
Posted on Reply
#25
Selaya
because everyone deserves a place to comfortably be themselves online, free from harassment and bullying
there's a real easy solution to that - just stop pugging!
Posted on Reply
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