The three largest console manufacturers in the video game industry – Microsoft, Sony Interactive Entertainment and Nintendo – undertake to make gaming “safer”, according to a press release published on Monday.
The three companies issued a statement published on Microsoft Xbox Wireoutlines the new initiative to protect their “youngest and most vulnerable players”. The promise lacks specific steps towards that goal; instead focuses on the “principles” that guide the program.
For example, the joint declaration highlights principles that include:
We believe that hatred and harassment or exploitation of younger players has no place in the game in any way. We work with our community to promote safe gaming behavior and encourage the use of reporting tools to target bad actors.
and:
We will comply with all local laws and will respond to any legitimate law enforcement requests. We will notify law enforcement immediately if we observe illegal behavior or if we believe a player is being exposed to immediate harm.
“At Xbox, we work with both Nintendo on behalf of the Nintendo Switch player community and with PlayStation. We believe that protecting online gamers requires a multidisciplinary approach that combines the benefits of advanced technology, a supportive community and expert human oversight, ”said Dave McCarthy, corporate vice president, Xbox operations. “We can do more if we work towards the same goal, so we will continue to invest in, develop, and expand our approaches to user security. As we continue with this work, we will prioritize protecting the safety of our players, especially the most vulnerable. “
The Principles describe “prevention, partnership and responsibility” – including commitments to help parents understand video game safety tools, “partnering with industry, regulators, law enforcement and our communities” and ensuring that gamers can report bad behavior. The full statement is available on Xbox Wire.
