Epic Games has recently announced that it is introducing a new voice reporting feature in the popular game Fortnite. The purpose of this new feature is to aid in effectively catching and penalizing players who violate the community rules established by the company.
According to Epic’s blog post, the new voice reporting feature is set to capture the past five minutes of audio on a “rolling basis” on the device the game is being played on. It is important to note that if the feature is used by an individual under the age of 18, it will always be on when using voice chats. The company emphasizes that it does not store voice recordings on its servers unless a report is filed. In addition, any audio captured after the five-minute window will be automatically deleted.
When an individual reports a conversation, the voice chat audio captured from the last five minutes will be uploaded with the report and sent to Epic moderators for review. It is crucial to mention that these reports are entirely anonymous. Furthermore, Epic states that it will auto-delete the audio clips after 14 days or “the duration of a sanction.” If an appeal is made, Epic may retain the clips for an additional 14 days to finalize their decision. If legally required, Epic may also retain a clip for as long as legally necessary.
For users over the age of 18, the voice reporting feature can be toggled to “off when possible.” This means that if the feature is turned off, it will not be available in parties created with friends who have also opted to turn voice reporting off. However, Epic also offers the option to turn voice chat off entirely, although this may not be ideal for players who want to easily communicate with their friends or other players in the game.
Epic’s decision to implement a voice reporting feature follows in the footsteps of other gaming companies like Sony and Microsoft, who have also introduced similar tools to monitor and moderate voice chats. Additionally, in an effort to enhance safety and relevance within the game’s community, Epic has announced that age ratings for all first and third party playable content within Fortnite will now be displayed. This initiative further demonstrates Epic’s commitment to creating a safe and age-appropriate gaming environment for all of its users.
Overall, the implementation of this new feature is a significant step forward in promoting a respectful and responsible gaming community. By providing users with the means to report inappropriate behavior during voice chats, Epic Games seeks to foster a positive and inclusive environment for all players. This new feature, along with other measures such as displaying age ratings for in-game content, showcases Epic’s dedication to promoting safety, responsibility, and inclusivity within its gaming community.