When a bunch of people get together in an online space, there is always a chance that a level of toxicity can begin to form. In gaming, this toxicity usually involves harassment, insults, and general antagonistic behavior. This behavior is not reserved to video games, as various social media platforms like Twitter have also formed a certain level of toxic behavior. Blizzard Entertainment is seeking to combat this toxicity with its new World of Warcraft social contract, and other studios should follow suit.
Over its lifespan, World of Warcraft has built a strong community that can be pretty toxic at times. Many players know all too well the feeling of being harassed simply because they did not know the boss mechanics. Newer players also face a lot of animosity when they ask simple questions about how to play the game, which is usually seen in large amounts of downvotes on the subreddit or insults thrown at them in-game. This behavior can really put new players (and sometimes veteran ones) off of Azeroth, and it creates an unsafe community for many. This same behavior can be seen in many online games, and it leads to an overall toxic gaming community. This new social contract hopes to break through some of that, and it could be a huge step for online gaming.
The World of Warcraft Social Contract Explained
A lot of the rules laid out in the new social contract are not that different from rules laid out in World of Warcraft's terms of service. The big difference between the two is that the social contract is much easier to read and digest than the lengthy terms are. The game presents the social contract to players upon logging into their character select screen and asks them to agree to these terms. If the player chooses not to agree, then the game will promptly close and the player will have to find a different game to play until they are willing to accept the contract. Once accepted, the game will start as normal and the player will be able to enter Azeroth.
The contract itself presents all the behaviors that are accepted in Azeroth and those that are not. It asks players to try their best to maintain a positive and strong community. Blizzard wants players to connect with each other, make friends, play together in a team, help anyone that they come across who may need help, and answer any question that comes along. If every player follows these rules, then Azeroth may feel like more of a community than it was before.
The social contract also lays out things that are not welcome in Azeroth. Players are not allowed to spew hate speech or make any comment that targets another person's identity. They are also not allowed to harass other players, threaten anyone, be abusive, or use derogatory language. On top of that, spamming and advertising are not allowed. Failure to follow these rules will result in punishment and possible suspension of the player's account. Blizzard wants to craft a diverse online community, and this is its first step to ensuring that.
How The Contract Changes the Online Landscape in WoW
The world is becoming increasingly connected and online focused as the years go by. Not only has the MMO genre exploded in popularity with titles like Final Fantasy 14 and New World, but social media has also grown immensely. Companies like Meta are also seeking to build an entire Metaverse similar to the OASIS in Ready Player One. The online landscape is growing and becoming more diverse, but is also a lot more toxic, which can prove to be a large issue.
While a lot of ground rules are laid out in the terms of service of these various online landscapes, they can be pretty hard to digest for users. Terms of service are large legal documents that many scroll through without even reading. World of Warcraft's social contract is much easier to get through, as it lays out the groundrules in a quick bullet pointed list. It also forces players to actually read the contract before they are even given the option to click accept. While some players may still scroll through it without paying any attention, more of them may actually read these guidelines and follow them.
The new social contract is only as strong as those enforcing it. Right now, Blizzard is surrounded by lawsuits alleging that the company built up a workplace culture filled with harassment. This new contract could simply be a gesture of good faith to the community, and Blizzard has no intention of actually enforcing it. However, if it is strictly enforced, then the World of Warcraft community will quickly become a more accepting place. Those who cannot follow the rules will be forced to find other games to play, and those who have no interest in accepting the contract will not be allowed to play. This will only leave those who want to adventure in Azeroth and make friends along the way, and the community will be better for it.
Other MMOs Should Adopt This WoW Policy
The players who end up breaking the contract should have no game to turn to. If they cannot uphold good behavior and help build a welcoming community in World of Warcraft then they should not be allowed to run to a game like Final Fantasy 14 or New World. If these games adopted a social contract of their own, and actually enforced it, then the most toxic of players would have nowhere to turn to. They would have to be forced to accept these rules if they wanted to play with others, or they would have to turn to singleplayer games and the online communities would be better for it.
Gaming is for everyone, and that sentiment should carry over to online gaming. In the past couple of years the online gaming community has adopted toxic behaviors that has put a stain on gaming. Blizzard's new social contract forces players to read and listen to rules that will make Azeroth a more welcoming place. If other video games adopted this same policy, then these toxic behaviors would have no place in the gaming industry, and the online world would become a safe haven for fun.
At the end of the day, all gamers want to do is have fun with their friends, but the toxicity that has festered in gaming can make it very difficult. If these actions can be rooted out via an enforced social contract, then gaming will be better for it. Time will tell if Blizzard actually commits to enforcing this contract and if it improves the community, but if it does, then other online spaces should quickly adopt contracts of their own to help make gaming safe for everyone.
World of Warcraft is available now on PC.