Tweaks to Xbox Live's reputation system make it easier to spot the bad apples

Some tweaks have rolled out to Xbox Live's player reputation system that should make discerning the bad apples in the online multiplayer scene both clearer and more effective. Mentioned in an explainer from Xbox's Major Nelson of how the reputation system works, the highlighted changes include a move away from the "gas gauge" style meter for showing a player's reputation and more.

Here's a brief rundown:

  • We no longer incorporate getting blocked into your reputation. We know that some players block others to avoid playing with them again versus for abusive behavior, particularly in competitive environments.
  • Members of our Policy & Enforcement Team are empowered to undo any feedback that they deem inaccurate; they can flag players as inaccurate feedback submitters; and If a player is being particularly abusive, they can issue suspensions.
  • We've updated how reputation appears on the console and in the Xbox app. We've heard that our reputation "gas gauge" is confusing, so we're moving away from this in favor of displaying a warning bar on the community-facing profiles of those with bad reputations.

If you're unfamiliar with Xbox Live's reputation system, it's a way to foster a better online community by giving each player a visible rating based on their online interactions with others. Through the system, griefers who are reported enough times will receive a warning label on their profile to inform others that they have a history of causing problems with other players.

For much more, be sure to check out the full, detailed explainer at the Major Nelson blog.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl