Xbox announced its new system of sanctions for toxicity from players, yet it has been criticised for inconsistencies and possible ambiguities.
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The strike system means that players are able to receive a total of eight strikes before they are “suspended from Xbox’s social features like messaging, parties and party chat, multiplayer and others for one year from the enforcement date”.
Different activities will lead to different responses from the strike system. Profanity and cheating are worth one strike, sexually inappropriate communication and harassment or bullying are two strikes, and hate speech is worth three strikes.
Strikes remain on a player’s record for six months and players are able to appeal enforcements that they perceive to be unmerited. “The system is similar to demerit strikes used in driver’s license systems in many countries,” justified Dave McCarthy, Xbox’s CVP of player services, in a post to Xbox Wire.
