Activision Ban 350,000 Accounts For 'Toxic Behaviour'

For many, Call of Duty and toxicity go hand in hand. The classic Modern Warfare lobbies of the Xbox 360 and PS3 era became well-known as a hive of vitriol and fury for some gamers and 13-year-olds alike, and have become the very first thing that comes to mind when the words “Call of Duty” are uttered for many people even to this day. It’s a legacy that the series has struggled to shake, even through two console generations and a slew of series titles. But now, developer Activision has made their stance on the matter very clear, demanding an end to toxicity across Call of Duty titles.

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Activision Push Back Against Toxicity In Call Of Duty

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As part of a new report, Activision has made it clear that they’re not standing for discrimination or toxic behaviour in Call of Duty. An update posted to the Call of Duty blog indicates that the publisher is active in the fight against the players who ruin the game for others.

In a bid to quell the unpleasantness of the series, Activision has banned over 350,000 accounts for using racist names or for previously being reported for in-game toxicity. The team have also implemented new technology to filter out offensive text chat across 11 different languages, ensuring racism and toxicity are stamped out of the game.

They’ve insisted that there is still more to be done, but this is certainly a start.

Activision’s Toxicity Statement

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Activision followed this reveal up with a short statement, pledging their efforts to see off toxicity once and for all. “We know we have a long way to go to reach our goals”, the statement begins. “This is just the start. Addressing this is an ongoing commitment that we will not waiver from. We look forward to making progress on this front and coming together with you to share in the fun and joy of playing together.” The publisher has promised more resources to detect and enforce toxicity, increase the standards of their databases and push for consistent and fair review policies for reported players.

It’s a very bold move for the company to make, but it’s one that will make Call of Duty titles a little safer and more fun for everyone. After all, they’ve got a legacy to pinch off, and this is the biggest step the company has ever taken away from the furious MW lobbies of yesteryear.

Images via Activision | Raven Software