In World of Warcraft there are many changes coming – and we are not talking about updates and expansions. The game is supposed to become less toxic, more welcoming for everyone. To achieve this, Blizzard has devised new rules and will soon require everyone to sign their “Social Contract.”
How will WoW become more enjoyable? Back in April, dataminers discovered that there will be a Social Contract in WoW. This mandates your signature and acknowledgment that there are certain behavioral rules in the MMORPG.
At its core, it states exactly what the terms of service say: Be nice and friendly to others, do not behave like an axe in the woods, and do not insult anyone. Now Blizzard promises in a blog post even more.
Among other things, the reporting system is set to improve. If you report a player to penalize toxic behavior, you will receive a thank-you email from Blizzard. If the player is punished, you will get another email.
If you have been reported yourself, you will also receive a message with information about it.
What does this mean for me? There isn’t a really big change, even though it sounds like a lot. When you log in, you will be greeted by the new contract that you must then sign – similar to terms of service and EULA.
The rules are not new but have always had to be followed. So you do not have to pay more attention than you already do; it just emphasizes them once again.
The reporting system is supposed to be a bit easier. After right-clicking on the player’s name and selecting the “Report Player” option, a popup appears. There you can, similar to a ticket, select a category and provide additional information for the report.
“This is just the beginning”
What else is coming? Blizzard talks about these measures being just the first step to making World of Warcraft better. It says:
These updates are just the beginning of our efforts to create a better place for you to spend your time. We know Azeroth is special for many of you, and we want to ensure it remains a place you call home.
It’s also about further improving the reporting system, but there is no concrete information yet about additional measures.
In our podcast, we discuss the pitfalls Blizzard is encountering – Can the new rules change the tone of interaction?
When will all this go live? Some of the changes are already in place, such as an improvement to the reporting system. More improvements and the Social Contract with the upcoming Patch 9.2.5, which will be released on June 1.
Signing the Social Contract will soon be mandatory if you want to play and will also be necessary for the upcoming expansion Dragonflight. Dragonflight is the next expansion after Shadowlands. We do not know exactly when it will be released – first, Season 4 is expected to come out in the summer:
In the crazy Season 4 of WoW Shadowlands, you can choose the best loot yourself
