After waiting over a year for a report and punishment system for console Overwatch, it’s finally here.
Overwatch’s Patch 1.14 added the system, allowing players to report bad behavior on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. It’s a much needed addition to the game, as toxic players have run amok on consoles. Changes won’t be implemented overnight, but as punishments begin to roll out, the environment will likely improve a bit.
Related: Overwatch’s report system is one of Blizzard’s “prime focuses,” game director Jeff Kaplan says
Blizzard has spoken frequently about how challenging it was to bring the report feature to console. The developer had to work outside its own Blizzard applications and design something that works in tandem with both Sony and Microsoft’s systems. The collaboration between the three groups made the feature harder to create.
A robust reporting and punishment system hasn’t eliminated toxic players on PC, but Blizzard intends to expand on the system for all platforms. Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan spoke earlier today about the system’s long-term road map, noting that it’s one of the team’s top priorities.
All the features that come to PC will likely roll out for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, too, though it’s unclear if it will be on a different timeline.
