“F-bombs in any form are not acceptable”
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Overwatch 2players have been left confused after discovering that using swear words while playing the game can potentially get their accounts suspended, as Blizzard customer service reiterates that “profanity has never been allowed in our games.”
This was first flagged after a number of Twitter users took to the social media site to ask why their accounts had been suspended, to which they were told that “inappropriate language” and profanity, if reported, is grounds for suspension.
Responding to one player who asked why “my account keeps getting punished,” customer supportexplains: “This would be for profanity. Specifically liberal use of F-bombs in chat. Profanity isn’t allowed in our games. Not explicitly, not abbreviated, not masked or misspelled.” In aseparate interaction, it’s stated that “F-bombs in any form are not acceptable.”
Needless to say, this has raised questions amongst the Overwatch community. The shooter itself offers a profanity filter for its chat, which users can utilize if they don’t want to see bad language, andsomehave pointed out that its existence essentially “gives off the impression that profanity is permitted.” However, responding to questions about the filter, community supportsays: “No, the filter is for those who wish to use it, but profanity has never been allowed in our games. If reported, absolutely actionable.”
Throughout the interactions, Blizzard customer support points to the company’sin-game code of conduct, which states that “you may not use language that could be offensive or vulgar to others,” and that like discriminatory language and hate speech, “obscene or disruptive language” is also considered inappropriate. “Violating any of these expectations will result in account restrictions. More serious and repeated violations will result in greater restrictions,” it adds.
Of course, it’s obvious to see why someone would be suspended if this language is directed towards any other players – the confusing part is that, based on customer support’s phrasing here, it seems thatallprofanity is forbidden, regardless of the context. Without the exact details of the phrases that have gotten players suspended recently, it’s hard to tell just how strict these rules are in reality, but just be aware that you may face consequences if you use swear words in the game’s chat.
For more first-person shooter action, be sure to check out our list of the top25 best FPS gamesyou can play now.
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I’m one of GamesRadar+’s news writers, who works alongside the rest of the news team to deliver cool gaming stories that we love. After spending more hours than I can count filling The University of Sheffield’s student newspaper with Pokemon and indie game content, and picking up a degree in Journalism Studies, I started my career at GAMINGbible where I worked as a journalist for over a year and a half. I then became TechRadar Gaming’s news writer, where I sourced stories and wrote about all sorts of intriguing topics. In my spare time, you’re sure to find me on my Nintendo Switch or PS5 playing through story-driven RPGs like Xenoblade Chronicles and Persona 5 Royal, nuzlocking old Pokemon games, or going for a Victory Royale in Fortnite.
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