The gaming industry’s Big 3 — Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox — have issued a joint update reiterating their “shared commitment to safer gaming.” Nintendo, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Microsoft first announced their partnership in 2020, but on Wednesday, the trio reaffirmed their position by updating their “shared principles.” The brands shared a message from Kim Kunes, Xbox’s Vice President of Gaming Trust & Safety, via their respective news wires. In the letter, Kunes breaks down the trio’s revised mission statement into three categories: “Prevention,” “Partnership,” and “Responsibility.”
“We believe gaming is for everyone and strive to provide experiences that are positive and enjoyable for all, especially for our youngest players,” Kunes writes. “We work to accomplish this by pursuing a multidisciplinary approach, integrating advanced technology, research-driven insights, supportive community efforts, and skilled human oversight.”
“[Xbox has] partnered behind the scenes with Nintendo and Sony Interactive Entertainment on these efforts because we can accomplish more when we work toward the same goal,” explains Kunes. She continues, noting the brands’ ongoing work has led them to revisit and revise their shared principles to reflect contemporary changes in tech and gaming.
“Our latest shared principles reflect new innovations in player safety that have evolved with technological advancements, and new ways in which we collaborate through key industry initiatives and with trade associations.”
Nintendo, Xbox, PlayStation reveal ‘shared principles’
Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation released a revised version of their “shared principles,” and “prevention,” “partnership,” and “responsibility” appear fundamental to their shared goals. Kunes’ full letter deconstructs each keyword and posits its application, but here are some of the key takeaways:
Prevention
To prevent unsafe gaming experiences, the brands must “[e]mpower players and parents to understand and control gaming experiences.” The companies believe this can be achieved using:
- “controls that let players customize their gaming experience”;
- “tools and information necessary to help [parents] customize appropriate gaming experiences for their children”;
- in-game safety features that are “easy to use and understand”;
- “guidance on how to use [the brands’ safety tools] through [their] platforms, support channels, services, on [their] websites, and in retail stores to reach more players and parents”;
- clear parent and player information regarding “codes of conduct and terms of use to support positive gaming experiences for everyone”;
- policy enforcement via “a variety of preventive and remedial measures” (though the letter doesn’t explain these measures further);
- products designed “with transparency and player empowerment at their core, aiming to make experiences that are intuitive and respect players’ choices.”
Partnership
Xbox, Nintendo, and PlayStation believe that partnering with “industry peers, publishers, regulators, law enforcement, and our communities” canadvance player safety. “Our commitment to safety is central, and we believe collaboration benefits the video game industry and all players by fostering safe gaming experiences.” Here’s how the Big 3 plans to get others involved:
- “We partner and engage with global and regional industry trade organizations, industry members, regulators, law enforcement, non-profit organizations, and experts to develop and/or advance online safety initiatives. These include Thriving in Games Group, the Family Online Safety Institute, and others.
- “We conduct shared research to inform policy decisions and to drive industry innovation. Individually, we have engaged with external research centers that study play and wellbeing.
- “We partner with our community to promote safe gaming behavior and encourage the use of reporting tools to call out bad actors, and we have tools and processes in place to support rapid response to emerging incidents.
- “We collaborate with ratings agencies such as the ESRB and PEGI, among others, to ensure that our games are rated for the appropriate audience, and work closely with the Entertainment Software Association and other trade associations to share trust & safety information designed to educate and promote positive play experiences.
- “We invest in leading technology and proactive collaboration to help thwart improper conduct and content. We participate in key industry initiatives, including the Tech Coalition and its Lantern program, that are dedicated to enhancing child safety through technology, knowledge-sharing, and transparency.”
Responsibility
Put simply, the brands plan to hold themselves “accountable for making our platforms as safe as possible for all players.” Here’s how:
- “We make it easy for players to report violations of our codes of conduct and community guidelines, which we work to refine and evolve to support our player communities.
- “In addition to removing content not suitable for our services, we take appropriate enforcement actions for violations, including restricting players from using our services for misconduct, with escalating restrictions for egregious or repeat violations. We engage in responsible and transparent practices, including the ethical use of all data, and deploy process enhancement technologies with skilled human oversight.
- “We comply with all applicable laws in the places we do business and respond to legitimate requests from law enforcement. We promptly notify law enforcement if we observe unlawful conduct or where we believe a player is at risk of imminent harm.
- “We publish our rules and requirements, and we ensure that players who have been reported understand the requirements for continued engagement with our platforms.”
Kunes closes the letter by summarizing their mission. “This partnership reflects our dedication to collaborating on solutions that enhance player safety and ensure our games are welcoming for everyone. The video game industry has a strong legacy of prioritizing player safety, especially for children. At the same time, we recognize that these challenges require collaboration and shared values, and so we welcome others to commit to the safety and well-being of players everywhere.”
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