The new recognitions in Overwatch bring joy, but also criticism. This is what we think of Blizzard’s new system.
Overwatch had a very toxic community for a long time. Insults and hostility of all kinds were part of everyday life. Hardly a match passed without a “Your mother” joke, a sexist insult, or just some expletive flying through the chat – usually rather multiple ones. This is, of course, not a new phenomenon on the internet, but it’s no reason to accept it.
This is presumably also what Blizzard thought, as they initially imposed penalties and improved the reporting system. The frequency of penalties and their intensity increased over time.
Now Blizzard is fed up with investing resources in punishments and is taking the opposite approach: they reward exemplary players who are friendly, cooperative, and helpful.
The recognition system is supposed to ensure that these players are rewarded. At the end of a match, you can assign a “recognition” to a player of your choice. This increases the player’s recognition level, and there are rewards given at regular intervals for that.
“Conditions like in China!”
Some users on Reddit are comparing the recognition system to the social credit system being tested in some parts of China. Those who behave “positively” here, such as living virtuously, caring for their parents, or having few vices, earn more points and have an easier time finding a job. Those with few points face various sanctions or, for example, have a harder time finding a hotel for the night.
Here, users draw comparisons. With the new “Looking for Group” tool, you can specifically search for players who have reached a certain recognition level. Those who weren’t friendly enough and received recognition rarely will be denied access to these groups.
Players criticize that Blizzard is establishing a system that robs players of their freedom. They are being forced to behave and conduct themselves in a way that Blizzard desires.
Not Blizzard decides, but the players: In one respect, the comparison of the angry fans falls short. Blizzard does not take on the role of a ruler deciding what good and bad behavior is. That decision lies with the players. Only they can grant “recognition” to friendly players and thus highlight them.
Hypocritical friendliness – Better than none?
On Reddit, proponents of the system counter that all those who are complaining now are exactly the players who will not benefit from the system – because they behave toxically. Those who criticize such a system probably already suspect that they need to reconsider their behavior if they want to continue playing.
Most players seem to not care that many players will only feign their friendliness to gain recognition and thus receive additional rewards. If this ultimately leads to reading “Nice shot, well done!” instead of “Fuck you, idiot,” then the system fulfills its purpose. The atmosphere improves.
Will the system be exploited? For sure. Players will certainly make agreements along the lines of “You give me your recognition and I will give you mine,” but in the overall scheme, this will likely have little impact.
Conclusion: I look forward to the feature and hope it leads to a more positive gaming experience and a friendlier community in Overwatch. Because honestly, I don’t care if “Randoms” are genuinely friendly or just pretend to be – it doesn’t make a difference for a short-term gaming experience.
What do you think of the recognition system?
