There are changes coming for Microsoft's Xbox One, specifically in its online reputation system.
A tweet by Microsoft's Mike Ybarra, Director of Program Management for Xbox, confirmed that they are already working on altering the reputation system due to other gamers finding ways to abuse it.
In an earlier article by Xbox Wire, the existing online reputation system ranks players based on the reports of other players. Hence, players who were repeatedly reported playing unfairly, showing rude and aggressive behavior, or just merely trolling will be given an "Avoid Me" tag. Other labels on the reputation system include "Good Player" and "Needs Work."
"If players do not heed warnings and continue to have a negative impact on other players and the Xbox Live community, they will begin to experience penalties. For example, people with an 'Avoid Me' rating will have reduced matchmaking pairings and may be unable to use certain privileges such as Twitch broadcasting," Micheal Dunn, Program Manager on Xbox Live, noted.
However, Game Rant cited in a recent report that the algorithm of Xbox One's reputation system is not perfect. There have been claims that many players are taking advantage of the system by giving negative feedback to players who beat them in games, hence, affecting their reputation levels.
The outlet even added that the prevailing exploitation of the system has an effect on the overall player experience as gamers, who should not be rated negatively, were unfairly given the "Avoid Me" label.
Microsoft is yet to reveal a specific course of action to address this concern. However, Game Rant suggested that a stronger or more thorough "appeals process" may help those who are wrongly-rated, or maybe some modifications in the overall algorithm that would lessen the effects of the changes in a player's reputation level.
The report also mentioned that taking action on the matter will help save Microsoft from another PR nightmare, with its previous policies of requiring players to authenticate their games online: always turn on the Kinect sensor and ask permission before trading games, receiving widespread bad press and criticism.
Reportedly, all those issues have been resolved and Microsoft is trying to continuously improve its features in order to enhance playing experience.
Just recently, Microsoft has even revealed new game titles such as "Borderlands," "Gears of War" and "Shadow Complex" that has been given its Xbox One backward compatibility.