Concerns and Farewell from a Dedicated Overwatch Player

General Discussion
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Dear Blizzard,

I’m writing to you today with a heavy heart as I announce my decision to step away from Overwatch 2. As someone who has been with the game since its inception in 2016, I’ve witnessed its evolution firsthand. However, recent experiences have led me to reevaluate my relationship with the game and its community.

After a two-year hiatus, I returned to Overwatch in August, eager to reconnect with the game and its vibrant player base. However, what I found was a stark contrast to the environment I once knew. It seems that the spirit of camaraderie and friendly banter has been overshadowed by a pervasive sense of hostility and an intolerance for any form of interaction beyond gameplay.

In my 1200 hours of playtime, I’ve always appreciated the social aspect of Overwatch. Whether it was engaging in lighthearted conversations about favorite foods, playfully teasing teammates, or expressing affection for a fellow player, these interactions added depth to the overall experience. Yet, to my dismay, I found that such interactions were met with hostility and reports from other players.

I admit that I’m not immune to heated exchanges, and I’ve received warnings and a temporary mute as a result. However, what troubles me is the disproportionate response to what I perceive as harmless banter. It appears that the player base has become overly sensitive, quick to report and punish any behavior that deviates from the norm, even if it’s as innocuous as expressing fondness for a teammate.

As someone who values the community aspect of Overwatch, I can’t help but feel disheartened by this shift in dynamics. The game that once fostered connections and friendships now feels like a battleground of egos, where any attempt at genuine interaction is met with suspicion and reprimand.

I understand the importance of maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment, but I fear that the current system of reporting and punishment is stifling the very essence of what made Overwatch special. In a game where teamwork and cooperation are paramount, fostering a sense of community should be prioritized over policing minor infractions.

With a heavy heart, I bid farewell to Overwatch 2. While I will cherish the memories and friendships forged during my time with the game, I can no longer justify subjecting myself to an environment that stifles genuine interaction and camaraderie.

Sincerely, Porkchop

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Good god, not porkchop… D:

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yap yap yap yap yap yappington

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Thank you for your support!

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no problem buddy boy :fire::fire:

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You were probably going to get banned anyways. But I do wish you happiness and success.

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Yeah, for something they won’t provide evidence on. All I do is banter back and forth or talk about food. Big distraction I guess.

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I think the reporting system is way too lienant, but
All bans should include the very specific reason why, attached with evidence if possible.

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THIS. This is what I want. This is a big part of it. Also there should be a strict guideline on what’s reportable and not just because a person is annoyed or is feeling some type of way.

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Transparency should eliminate most of unnecessary bans. If they had to attach a real reason , then banning for gg and ez will go away.
But people should be free to report. I don’t want people playing semantic games when they’re just being toxic.
Just don’t be toxic. It really is as simple as that.

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The only way I would call myself toxic is if expressing fondness for other players or discussing food is causing others such anguish that it justifies a report.

edit: I’ve been the same person I’ve always been and in over 1200 hours never once had a warning. Took a break for a few years, come back and all of the sudden I get warnings and mutes.

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im being pushed to the point like ive lost multiple accounts due to hostile players like i just want to be able to play my favorite gals struggling or not but ive been pushed over the edge for like 2 days in a row but in reality defense matrix needs a total and complete overhaul

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Those are rookie numbers

Sounds like someone has life outside of OW

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With the current system in place, it feels like refraining from any form of communication beyond using pings is the only viable option to avoid hostile interactions or being targeted by report-happy individuals.

In an environment where innocent banter or attempts at friendly communication can be misconstrued or exaggerated by others, players may feel compelled to mute themselves entirely to mitigate the risk of facing unwarranted repercussions. This not only stifles the social aspect of the game but also diminishes the collaborative spirit that Overwatch is built upon.

Moreover, the prevalence of report-happy players creates a chilling effect, where individuals hesitate to engage in any form of interaction out of fear of being unfairly reported. This fosters an atmosphere of distrust and isolation, detracting from the sense of community that should be at the heart of Overwatch.

It’s crucial for Blizzard to address these concerns and implement measures that promote positive communication and discourage the misuse of reporting tools. By fostering a more inclusive and respectful environment, Overwatch can reclaim its status as a place where players can come together to enjoy the game and build meaningful connections.

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No, no, and no. Takes multiple reports from different accounts and multiple lobbies reporting you to get actioned.

You’re eloquent and sincere in your topic op, i’ll give you that. My guess would be you interacted with an assortment of toxic players in multiple lobbies, enough to get noticed and reported multiple times. Just a guess.

Not saying false punishments don’t happen. Thats so exceedingly rare tho, and I havent actually seen any proof of it ever here on the forums, especially when it comes to comms punishments. And there have been dozens and dozens of these types of threads, if not hundreds.

All that is to say, seems like youre saying the right things here, but thats not indicative at all of what actually happens in your chat in game.

Best of luck, hope you find greener pastures. I’ll keep playing this game till the servers go down, cause I don’t engage in chat at all. There are far better “social” games out there anyway. Ow2 isnt that anymore, sadly.

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What’s the name/ID of the account that got banned?

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I’m not here to defend my recent in-game interactions, which have been limited to text-only while focusing on farming arcade achievements. I want to clarify that I haven’t used any vulgar language or engaged in anything beyond light-hearted banter, like saying “go away Genji,” “you’re so close,” or sharing anecdotes such as “I just had [insert last meal here].” These interactions were meant in a playful spirit and were never intended to cause offense or disruption.

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Getting rid of match chat would fix so many toxicity/reporting issues. Why in the world do I need to be able to talk to the other team?

Console didn’t have text chat for years, and it was a much better experience. Toxicity skyrocketed after it was added.

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Lmao! Yeah, I just recently put in 300 hours over the last 6 months. Prior to that though it felt like a lot of hours!

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This is what corpo controlled servers and matchmaking looks like; lowest cost automation that is easily exploited for S&Gs.

Stop playing FPSes that DONT provide dedicated server options.