Blizzard used the toxicity and cheating update for "Overwatch 2" (opens in new tab) to utter a bit of humility. This is partly because, unlike the original version, "Overwatch 2" is free-to-play, but even so, the player numbers are staggering, defying the purpose of the game.

The "Overwatch 2" development team has given its approach to malicious behavior the grand D.V.-inspired name of the "Defense Matrix" initiative, which, according to Blizzard, has begun initial deployment of a system to detect "disruptive" voice chat." It has proven to be very accurate and effective in identifying abusive chat and language." When malicious chat is identified, the game selectively silences the guilty party and, in the worst case, applies account suspension.

Blizzard also takes aim at inappropriate content within custom games. Perhaps because the game's popularity list (open in a new tab) shows things like "sexual harassment simulators," which is a persistent problem for the game. There is a new moderation tool that will automatically target "inappropriate titles and content" as well as restrictions and account actions against those who create and post such custom games.

To combat stream sniping, an option will be introduced to hide one's own and others' battle tags during games. In addition to this, players will be able to hide their current queue time and delay it for a random amount of time before the game actually starts.

Since launch, over 50,000 accounts have been "actioned" for cheating, and Blizzard believes that enough is enough. Starting in Season 3, they are considering identifying players who regularly group up with cheaters and taking action against their accounts, even if they themselves are not cheating, with a "severe suspension" or, in extreme cases, a total ban Blizzard is keeping its fingers crossed about it a bit. They're keeping their fingers crossed: "Players who knowingly group with cheaters are trying to gain the same advantage as players who use cheats. I get it, Mom.

Finally, the developers reiterate what is a hallmark of this update: report, report, report... Blizzard says they will likely take action against any reported behavior and are working to make the UI easier to do so, but anything you see I want you to report it. Just reading this made me feel a bit like a narc, even though I know I'm talking about jerks. But it's clear that Blizzard wants players to work on this, like most of the team structures I'll eventually be a part of: no mercy.