Head of Xbox Phil Spencer, who jumpstarted a new initiative vowing to create a protective environment for players, has been very outspoken for the last several months about the intention to make Xbox a safe home for gamers that is as devoid of toxicity as possible. In a recent interview, Spencer further discussed the idea of Xbox and Xbox Live as an inclusive place for gamers on a universal scale, though there does exist limitations to Xbox as a platform altogether.

Having written a recent blog post outlining the forthcoming efforts too battle toxicity and all-around unappealing behavior, while also launching updates targeting scathing trash talk, Spencer was approached at E3 2019 and asked a few questions regarding his stated mission with Xbox. Asked why he wrote the aforementioned blog post, Spencer responded by stating that the direction of Xbox should be apparent to consumers and that the company should have a concrete purpose.

Admitting that there would inevitably be detractors of Xbox's mission, Spencer said, "Xbox Live is not a free speech platform. It is not a place where anybody can come and say anything." Since the team is working on fostering an environment conducive to a toxic-free, diverse community, Spencer added, "I don’t want to be opaque about it. I want to be out there front and center so that you understand our motivation."

Spencer later went on to discuss some of the specifics regarding what was stated in May's blog post. He went over the "content moderation features" mentioned in the blog post and said that upcoming features will empower Club moderators to efficiently regulate clubs and groups in a way that ensures they are free of harassment and toxic behavior.

Spencer's statements on free speech are bound to generate some controversy, as he implied. By establishing that Xbox isn't made for the exchange of ideas and shouldn't enhance consumers' voices in the name of free speech, there will be some who will be at least highly critical of the company.

Conversely, Spencer will likely have the support of many who share his concerns for toxic gaming environments and inclusivity. Ultimately, the head of Xbox does have goals a great majority of gamers can sympathize with, as well as audiences who advocate for freedom of speech.

Source: Kotaku