As it stands, Minecraft is one of the most-played video games in the world, with its fanbase reaching gamers of varying demographics from all across the globe. With such a vast array of people tuning in to play every day, there are bound to be cases of players behaving inappropriately. However, it seems Mojang has recently enforced new measures to help police its users.
According to a press release from the company, the minds behind Minecraft have integrated new moderator tools into Bedrock version in an effort to create a more "welcoming environment" online. Mojang said it's an idea the team has been working on for some time, and one that it intends to continue improving going forward.
The tools will be put into place on Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Windows 10, iOS, and Android versions. As it stands, it will allow moderators to permanently ban Minecraft players who are actively breaking the company's community guidelines in either Realms or Featured Servers. It seems the majority of bans will be for abuse through online chat, signposts, or books, with the press release claiming moderators will be looking to police players who intend "to cause harm to others." Receiving a ban will bar the player from all online versions of Minecraft except Minecraft Dungeons.
The team is looking to integrate the ability to hand out temporary bans as well as permanent ones in the future. However, it seems for now the latter will be the only option for moderators. Receiving a ban will deliver a message informing the player of the reason behind their punishment and instructing them on how to cancel their Realms membership. As for what is included in these offenses, Mojang Help Center lists hate speech, sexual content, exposing personal information, real-life threats, impersonating staff, and more.
According to the statement, players can expect more announcements in the future, with Mojang promising players that it's evaluating the best ways to keep everyone safe. With Minecraft having such a potentially young demographic on its servers, it's important for Mojang to keep a watchful eye on its players to ensure the community is a safe place for fans of all ages. The news will surely be of some comfort to parents with children who frequent Minecraft's servers, as well as players wanting to experience the game unhindered by hate speech and offensive comments.
Minecraft is available on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
Source: Mojang, Minecraft Help Center