Xbox gamers in the UK have been given a stern warning about a new rule implemented by Microsoft that could result in users being banned for up to a year if they break the company's terms and conditions.
What is the new rule?
Microsoft, the tech giant behind Xbox, is aiming for more transparency with its enforcement policies and has outlined the specific punishments that players will face for breaching the terms and conditions (T&Cs) of service. Under the new system, if a gamer repeatedly causes trouble, their entire Xbox console – not just their account – can be completely blocked, either temporarily or permanently.
What does the new rule cover?
Xbox's terms and conditions cover all aspects of the gaming experience on the console, including Xbox Games Studio app, games, and websites, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Live, Xbox Music, and Xbox Store.
How does the new rule work?
The number of times a player receives "strikes" from the Xbox safety team will determine their ban length. The severity of the violation determines the number of strikes a player receives. Each strike results in a suspension from Xbox's social features such as multiplayer gaming, messaging, and parties. For example, two strikes result in a one-day suspension, four strikes lead to a one-week ban, and eight strikes result in a full-year ban from the platform.
What are the consequences of the ban?
Once a player has received the maximum eight strikes, they will be locked out of the platform for an entire year. This means they will not be able to access multiplayer gaming, messaging, parties, party chat, or other social Xbox features. However, players can still sign into their Xbox account and play games as long as they don't require online services, messaging apps, or purchases.
What are some of the violations that can lead to a ban?
Some of the breaches of Microsoft's T&Cs that can result in a ban include bullying and harassment, inappropriate sexual misconduct, cheating, and hate speech.
Account vs. console ban
If a gamer repeatedly causes trouble, their Xbox console – not just their account – can be blocked entirely, either temporarily or permanently. According to Xbox, enforcement actions usually happen at the account level, but in cases of repeated and egregious violations, Xbox can suspend or permanently ban the console or device. A device suspension temporarily revokes certain privileges on the console, while a device ban permanently blocks access to the Xbox network. This means that no one can use the affected console or device to connect to the Xbox service, preventing problematic players from simply creating new accounts.
Appealing against enforcement actions
Players can review their Enforcement History to see how many strikes they've received and when their suspension will end. Additionally, users have the option to appeal against eligible enforcement actions.
