Toxicity in online gaming affects many players around the globe and Activision has sought an interesting solution to this problem: the use of AI chat monitoring. While the emerging concept of AI in video games has taken off, CoD players aren't all that excited about the idea of bots issuing chat bans.
Call of Duty's AI chat monitoring system came as an attempt to clean up the toxicity of voice chat, banning those who use certain words, phrases or general hateful language. Or at least that's the goal. However, reports from players are starting to suggest that this AI bot is a bit too trigger happy.
User issathrowaway1 jumped on Reddit to air his frustrations with the AI monitoring system after their 14-day ban ended. They state that they rarely use a nearby chat room and stick to casual chats with friends. After their first ban for saying, “four f**** on a roof” during a game of Rebirth Island Resurgence, they quickly received another ban for “this game is f****** garbage” after a severe delay spike. Both sentences undoubtedly contain profanity, but not enough for a two-week ban.
Our protagonist is not the only one who is destroyed by the ruthless AI. User PADDYPOOP has received two chat bans in the past for language used during a party chat, saying, “Two of the three chat bans I've received were from being in a party chat alone. It's absolutely amazing.” Most players report that their chat bans are of the usual explicit trash talk expected in Call of Duty.
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Meanwhile, another player (user squid172) talks about the toxicity throughout the franchise, saying, “The toxicity is part of Call of Duty's DNA, the best part of SND is talking s*** to other players.”
Personally, I've experienced the most toxic lobbies and the most silent, and I'm saddened to know that a single explicit word can get you a two-week chat ban. While I rarely run away from a shouting match during a KoD game, but for those who have no interest, don't be subjected to hateful words.
The conversation around toxicity is complicated; players who don't want to hear profanity can mute and report offenders, or even remove voice chat altogether, but being forced to choose the latter isn't the best solution. However, banning profanity in a game like Call of Duty is not the direction either. Especially when the franchise in question is already rated 18+, has guns, blood, violence and profanity in the game, and promotes drugs in its spare time. It is unclear whether Activision will redo the sensitivity of the AI or if this will be the new direction of Call of Duty – only time will tell.
Here's everything we have on the AI chat monitoring situation. If you're looking for more Call of Duty content, check out All the rewards in the CoD MW3 Vortex event: VI.Rus Mainframe, Hope in humanity restored as CoD community helps fan with one ear, and more on Pro Game Guides.
