we are moving closer to a future where moderation is even more scalable and effective.
How do you approach educating players about the importance of community guidelines and creating a culture of respect within gaming environments? Begin with clear, accessible community guidelines, ideally integrating them into gameplay. Use the game’s language to make guidelines engaging — for instance, Sea of Thieves’ “pirate code” seamlessly blends rules with the game’s world. Additionally, consider hosting regular workshops or
webinars on online safety and respectful behavior, and leveraging social channels to share tips and resources to empower players to protect themselves and others online.
How can developers effectively address toxic behavior without alienating players or negatively impacting the overall gaming experience? To address toxic behavior effectively, developers should institute a fair appeals process, following guidelines like those outlined in the Digital Services Act (DSA). This allows players to challenge moderation decisions and ensures accountability. Timely responses to player reports are also crucial for
maintaining trust and demonstrating commitment to community safety. Transparency is the key point here — clearly communicate your policies and moderation decisions to the community. By showing that actions are taken fairly and consistently, developers can maintain the game community without alienating players or detracting from the overall gaming experience.
What do you believe are the key differences in player behavior and community engagement when considering different global markets (like say, Japan) compared to the West? Video games are global, requiring culturally tailored community management and content moderation. To effectively moderate these disparate communication styles, it’s important that we don’t build moderation strategies in our cultural bubble. This is why we train our moderation teams extensively on cultural differences and understanding bias.
What role do in-game rewards and incentives play in fostering positive behavior and ensuring players are engaged in a safe environment? This strategy is often overlooked yet highly effective. By celebrating players who exhibit positive behavior with in-game rewards and recognition, you send a clear and powerful message to the community that harmful behavior won’t be tolerated.
At Keywords Studios, our Community Management
team often employs a leveling system in Discord servers that rewards players with XP for engagement, using game-specific themes for levels. This not only boosts engagement but also serves as a Safety by Design feature, using gamification principles to teach players about community standards.
How do you see new technologies (like VR, AR, or even social features) impacting community safety and player engagement? VR and AR present a set of very new challenges (and opportunities) for community safety and player engagement. With the physical embodiment of avatars, developers must effectively moderate multiple forms of user-generated content simultaneously. These emerging technologies also offer immersive and innovative ways to engage players, fostering a deeper sense of community and interaction. Balancing these aspects will be crucial as these technologies continue to evolve.
How can smaller indie developers implement community safety measures and player engagement strategies without the same resources as larger studios? Start by assessing your immediate needs and prioritizing the basics — you might not need a Rolls Royce when a bicycle will do. Consider leveraging experts like Keywords Studios to fill expertise gaps. Next, establish clear community guidelines, moderation policies, and enforcement mechanisms. Implement an in-game player reporting system, as Bytro did using Helpshift, to streamline issue handling. Additionally, we recommend launching with basic
but scalable automated moderation technology to detect harmful content and respond as quickly as possible. Finally, engage with your community and gather player feedback to foster a positive environment without excessive cost.
How do you envision the future of player engagement, and what steps can studios take today to ensure their games remain both secure and engaging for players in 2025 and beyond? The future of player engagement is holistic, encompassing Trust & Safety, Community Management, support, and technology as an end-to-end solution. These elements should not be siloed; they work together to create a positive and seamless player experience. To prepare for this future, studios should proactively
invest in player safety initiatives now. This proactive approach can help studios comply with the DSA and the UK’s Online Safety Act. By prioritizing player safety and integrating engagement strategies today, studios can ensure their games remain secure and engaging for years to come.
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