via<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\nDas toxische Verhalten einiger Spieler war in Overwatch<\/span> 1 ein gewaltiges Problem, welches sowohl Blizzard als auch die Community besch\u00e4ftigte. Das Ganze wurde ein wenig dadurch limitiert, dass Overwatch<\/span> 1 einen Kaufpreis besa\u00df und Spieler somit nicht unendlich viele neue Accounts erschaffen konnten. Da der Nachfolger Overwatch<\/span> 2 aber auf ein F2P-Modell setzt, haben die Entwickler sich eine Reihe von anderen Ma\u00dfnahmen ausgedacht, die das toxische Verhalten bek\u00e4mpfen sollen. Eine \u00dcbersicht dazu wurde gestern Abend ver\u00f6ffentlicht.<\/p>\nErst einmal kann Overwatch<\/span> 2 nur dann gespielt werden, wenn ein Spieler eine Telefonnummer mit seinem Battle.Net<\/span> Account verbunden hat. Dieser Umstand soll die Sicherheit von Nutzern verbessern und gleichzeitig die M\u00f6glichkeit zum Erstellen von mehreren Accounts limitieren. Bestimmte Arten von Nummern, wie beispielsweise Prepaid- und VOIP-Nummern<\/span> funktionieren nicht f\u00fcr dieses Angebot. Wer also Overwatch<\/span> 2 spielen m\u00f6chte, der muss so eine Nummer angeben und gleichzeitig nat\u00fcrlich auch eine zul\u00e4ssige Telefonnummer besitzen. Da das sicherlich nicht auf alle Nutzer zutrifft, darf man hier mit Problemen rechnen.<\/p>\nDes Weiteren wird Blizzard Entertainment in Overwatch<\/span> 2 alle im Voice-Chat gesprochenen Meldungen aufzeichnen und f\u00fcr ca. 30 Tage speichern. Wenn Spieler f\u00fcr toxische Aussagen gemeldet werden, dann k\u00f6nnen sie diese Aufzeichnungen als Beweis daf\u00fcr verwenden. Diese gesprochenen Worte werden dabei dann durch Audiotranskriptionstechnologie<\/span> in Text umgewandelt und durch ein Chat\u00fcberpr\u00fcfungstools auf problematische Aussagen \u00fcberpr\u00fcft. Nach dem Text l\u00f6scht das System den Text automatisch wieder, sodass keine Informationen zu lange gespeichert werden. Spieler m\u00fcssen aber dar\u00fcber Bescheid wissen, dass alle ihre Aussagen aufgezeichnet werden.<\/p>\nEin weiteres Problem stellen vermutlich kommende Einschr\u00e4nkungen f\u00fcr neue Spieler dar. Die Entwickler wollen Neulinge wohl nicht \u00fcberfordern, weshalb Spieler beim Einstieg in Overwatch<\/span> 2 auch nur begrenzten Zugang zu den Spielmodi, dem Chat des Spiels und den verf\u00fcgbaren Helden erhalten. Die erste Phase dieser Einschr\u00e4nkungen soll relativ schnell \u00fcberwunden werden und den Spielern sowohl den Chat als auch alle Spielmodi liefern. F\u00fcr die Freischaltung von allen Helden des Spiels m\u00fcssen Spieler aber erst einmal 100 Matches abschlie\u00dfen. Diese Einschr\u00e4nkungen gelten allerdings nicht in Gruppen au\u00dferhalb der Rangliste von Overwatch<\/span>.<\/p>\nAuch wenn Blizzard Entertainment hier Vorteile f\u00fcr Neulinge und den Kampf gegen Cheater als Gr\u00fcnde auflistet, so sehen viele Spieler aber andere Hintergr\u00fcnde bei diesen Einschr\u00e4nkungen. Laut diesen Personen wollen die Verantwortlichen vermutlich einfach nur F2P-Spieler einschr\u00e4nken und nicht zu viele Dinge komplett kostenlos anbieten. Diese Spieler rechnen damit, dass man das Ganze vermutlich einfach \u00fcberspringen kann, wenn man Geld investiert. Schlie\u00dflich d\u00fcrfen Besitzer von Overwatch<\/span> 1 oder K\u00e4ufer des Watchpoint-Pakets<\/span> schon jetzt diese Einschr\u00e4nkungen \u00fcberspringen und direkt voll loslegen.<\/p>\nDazu kommen noch die weiteren folgenden \u00c4nderungen am Spiel: Spielerstufen<\/span> werden aus dem Spiel entfernt, das Anerkennungssystem wird in einer angepassten Firm beibehalten, es gibt ein neues Pingsystem<\/span> f\u00fcr die Kommunikation, der Bildschirm vor Ranglistenmatches wird angepasst und der allgemeine Chat verschwindet komplett aus dem Spiel. Die letzte \u00c4nderung wird durchgef\u00fchrt, weil die Entwickler in diesem Chat die gr\u00f6\u00dfte Konzentration von toxischen Aussagen entdeckt haben. Andere Chats sind nat\u00fcrlich weiterhin verf\u00fcgbar.<\/p>\nMa\u00dfnahmen gegen toxisches Verhalten sind in modernen Spielen bedauerlicherweise notwendig. Irgendwie treibt Blizzard es mit Overwatch<\/span> 2 aber eindeutig zu weit. Ich will weder eine Telefonnummer angeben m\u00fcssen, noch dauerhaft beim Zocken \u00fcberwacht werden. Ansonsten ist es einfach nur albern, wie stark F2P-Spieler eingeschr\u00e4nkt werden. Overwatch<\/span> 1 war nach dem Kauf komplett kostenlos (mit Ausnahme von Lootboxen) und legte viel Wert auf Fairness zwischen allen Spielern. Mit Overwatch<\/span> 2 kommt aber eine Einstellung in das Spiel, die mich viel zu stark an CoD<\/span> und die l\u00e4stigsten Aspekte von Live-Service-Titeln erinnert.<\/p>\n\nDefense Matrix activated! Fortifying gameplay integrity and positivity in Overwatch 2<\/h1>\n\n
Overwatch 2 going free-to-play is driven by our belief that the game should be played and enjoyed alongside friends. On October 4, we are excited to welcome even more players into our universe. While this is an exciting time, we also recognize that free-to-play introduces new challenges in how we disincentivize disruptive behavior and gameplay. We\u2019re ready to meet these challenges head on with a new initiative we\u2019re calling Defense Matrix.<\/span><\/p>\nDefense Matrix encompasses our infrastructure of systems designed to help protect the integrity of gameplay and promote positive behavior in Overwatch 2. This initiative is spearheaded by a group made up of cross-functional teams throughout Blizzard, and they have defined a set of goals that\u2019s guiding our mission to ensure a great experience for all Overwatch 2 players:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Define, develop, and nurture programs that will ensure a positive experience for all players.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Ensure competitive integrity at every level of play by rapidly identifying and eliminating cheaters and disruptive players.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Create a safer community both in and out of the game by embracing a firm stance against disruptive gameplay and enabling players who are both positive and constructive to be the leading voices in the community.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These core philosophies guide the Defense Matrix team\u2019s efforts to work together to fortify Overwatch\u2019s security and game experience so every hero can play the game in a fair and safe environment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nSMS Protect\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
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SMS Protect brings meaningful change when it comes to disruptive play. This additional layer of security is an industry-proven solution in combating both cheating and disruptive behavior, further protecting your Overwatch 2 experience from bad actors.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe security of your account is important, and SMS Protect helps verify ownership of your account in the unforeseen event of an account compromise. Similarly, if a disruptive player has been suspended or banned, SMS Protect makes it more difficult for them to return to the game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nStarting October 4, 2022, all players across all platforms, including consoles, are required to have a phone number attached to their battle.net account to launch Overwatch 2. The same phone number cannot be used on multiple accounts at the same time, and players can\u2019t use the same phone number to create multiple accounts. A phone number can only be used once when making a new account, and certain types of numbers, including pre-paid and VOIP, cannot be used for SMS Protect.<\/span><\/p>\nEven if you own a previous box version of the original Overwatch, you still need to activate SMS Protect to play Overwatch 2.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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\nSystems Design<\/span><\/h2>\nOverwatch is a social game, with many in-game spaces where players interact, communicate, and work together. These spaces all improve the player experience through gameplay and interaction whether in Competitive, Workshop, or Quick Play. As stewards of Overwatch, we\u2019re constantly evaluating our in-game systems. As part of this process, we\u2019ve determined that there were a few spaces that were not meeting expectations and needed improvement heading into the launch of Overwatch 2 and the weeks following.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nMachine learning and audio transcriptions\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nFor years, our team has used machine learning to detect and prevent disruptive behavior, cheating, and disruptive text chat. Our detection methods leverage multiple systems, including your in-game reports, to identify behavior that drives down the quality of the in-game experience. We\u2019re expanding our detection capabilities by introducing audio transcriptions in the following weeks after launch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAudio transcriptions allow us to collect a temporary voice chat recording of a reported player and automatically transcribe it through speech to text programs. The text file is then analyzed for disruptive behavior by our chat review tools. Once the audio recording has been transcribed to text, it\u2019s quickly deleted as the file\u2019s sole purpose is to identify potentially disruptive behavior. The text file is then deleted no later than 30 days after the audio transcription.<\/span><\/p>\nThis system relies on players reporting disruptive behavior as soon as they encounter it in game because we do not store voice chat data long term. This means you should report disruptive behavior as it\u2019s occurring in-game to give us the best chance at detecting, catching, and preventing disruptive players. Your reports matter\u2014player reporting is one of the most effective methods for identifying and actioning disruptive behavior as quickly as possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nFirst time user experience <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe First Time User Experience (FTUE) is an introduction to Overwatch 2 specifically designed for brand-new players who make their account post-launch.<\/span><\/p>\nWe want FTUE to welcome players more gradually to Overwatch 2, as we\u2019ve seen consistent feedback from new players feeling overwhelmed by numerous game modes and heroes. New players begin with access to a limited set of game modes, heroes, and some other restrictions to onboard them more gradually. The first phase of our new FTUE rapidly unlocks all the game modes and the ability to chat in-game, and the second phase unlocks all the original Overwatch heroes over the course of approximately 100 matches. This focused experience eases new players into the world of Overwatch by teaching them about different modes, rules, and other high-level aspects of the game in an approachable way.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Most FTUE restrictions are lifted while in a group, so new players can team up with their friends at any time to play almost any game modes. Competitive is the exception to this rule because new players must complete a specific challenge to access this game mode.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nRequirements to enter Competitive mode are changing with Overwatch 2. We are removing player levels in-game, so instead of having to reach a certain level, new players are now challenged to win 50 Quick Play matches before Competitive unlocks. This gives new players time to prepare for the higher expectations that come with Competitive, while long-term players don\u2019t feel discouraged by teammates who have less experience. In the process of unlocking Competitive, we analyze new player skill levels to optimize matchmaking in a way that feels good to everyone.<\/span><\/p>\nWhile this process helps new players join the fun, it\u2019s also an effective way to discourage disruptive behavior and cheating. FTUE is an investment to complete because it takes time to unlock game features\u2014 Competitive, specifically, cannot be accessed without winning matches. Disruptive players are unable to immediately affect the larger community, with things like voice chat and match chat unlocking later in FTUE. Brand-new accounts made by cheaters or disruptive players will all have to play through this experience, giving us the chance to identify suspicious accounts before they enter other game modes.<\/span><\/p>\nFTUE was designed to make Overwatch 2 a welcoming, approachable, and fun game for everyone who chooses to play. This experience only affects accounts made on or after the October 4 release date: anyone who played prior, as well as Watchpoint Pack owners, will not have to play through the First Time User Experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nEndorsements<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nPositive interactions deserve to be celebrated, so Endorsements are being optimized for Overwatch 2. There will only be a single Endorsement category per match, rather than splitting into three different categories, and you will only be able to endorse players on your team. Through this change, positive players will have an easier time achieving and maintaining high endorsement levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nOur goal is that players recognize and aspire to be positive forces in our community, and we plan to award Battle Pass experience to players with high endorsement levels to show our appreciation!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nPre-Competitive match screen\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nAs we mentioned, player levels are being removed in Overwatch 2, with experience going towards leveling up your Battle Pass! This means Portrait Borders that symbolize player level are going away from all game modes in Overwatch 2, and Competitive skill tiers will no longer be displayed before each Competitive match. Players will have customizable name cards and titles to display alongside their in-game name and player icon. There are a few reasons for this change: We found this to be a pain point for Competitive as some players were passing judgement on their teammates before the match began, causing either explicit or implicit bias to occur immediately.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWe want this change to help players work together by eliminating this potential bias.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nPing System <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe Ping System is a new feature in Overwatch 2 that gives players the ability to communicate with their team without having to use voice chat. This system enhances voice communication while also providing alternative ways to share information with your team. We also understand that some players do not wish to participate in voice chat at all, and our hope is that this system is valuable to those players.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nGeneral Chat <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe General Chat in the game menus is being removed from the game because we found it to be an area where frequent disruptive behavior occurred. General chat doesn\u2019t serve a productive purpose, and it could be removed without compromising the core mechanics of the game. Other chats will remain in-game for players to use.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n