In PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) you can earn points for good behavior in the future. The Battle Royale will receive a reputation system with update 10.2, allowing you to evaluate your teammates. Will toxic players become better people because of this?
What is the reputation system? The reputation system shows other players whether you behave decently or if you are a toxic flamer ruining the fun for everyone. The reputation level ranges from 0 to 5.
Your reputation is displayed to other players directly next to your username. It is also shown in team searches and the list of teammates.
The reputation system outwardly shows how you treat your teammates. This gives others an impression of what kind of teammate you are, as well as who you are playing with.
This is how the reputation system works in PUBG
At the start, everyone begins with a reputation level of 2. If you get reported for negative behavior, it can lead to a loss of reputation. Negative behavior is defined in the PUBG blog post about the new update as follows:
- Hindering teammates through your own gameplay
- Verbal outbursts in voice chat
- Team kills
- Repeatedly leaving matches without returning
If a player violates PUBG’s terms of service, this can also lead to a downgrade in reputation level. In the future, cheaters may lose their entire in-game reputation in addition to a temporary ban. A report on suspected cheating has no impact on the reputation level.
Those who behave positively will be rewarded: Your reputation level increases with normal gameplay in both regular matches and ranked mode. As of now, positive ratings from teammates are not possible.
Will toxic gamers become better people now?
Hatred, cyberbullying, and sexual harassment are major problems on the internet and social networks, as well as in video games.
Behind the supposed anonymity, many tend to extreme reactions. Particularly when teammates have been randomly selected by the game and things aren’t going the way the player would like it to.
It doesn’t matter if you’re playing PUBG, Rocket League, Minecraft, or any other game with strangers. Many developers have already responded by integrating reporting systems into their games, trying to combat hate on the internet.
The player receives no feedback on whether a report has had any effect. So it is unclear whether and when a player will receive punishment for their behavior.
This is how the new reputation system works: The visual display allows for an initial assessment of whether the teammate has shown positive behavior in the past or has behaved toxically towards others. With the system, a piece of anonymity fades, and other players may think twice about playing with someone who has a low level in the reputation system.
The incentive to behave positively and rank up may also lead many players to reconsider their own behavior.
Will this work? Anyone who is faced with a mirror and called “toxic” by the game may reconsider their attitude towards teammates.
Statements like: “How did you get to this low rank? You are actually nice?” could be common among friends. Through the visual branding as a toxic player, they will find it difficult to find suitable teammates in the future.
Whether PUBG will use the reputation system in the future with random teams is unknown. This scenario is conceivable, allowing nice and toxic players to be separated in the future.
Are there comparable systems in other games? In League of Legends, toxic players are already punished. Those who behave badly in LoL and insult others in chat are sometimes automatically banned. If someone wishes another to die (“kys” – Kill yourself), they will be banned for 14 days on first offense. If they continue to do so, they risk a permanent ban. Although there is no reputation system in the MOBA from Riot Games, the consistent action by developers against hate does have an effect, and at least in the in-game chat, players think twice before insulting a teammate.
PUBG will not be able to convert all toxic players into better people. But the step taken now is a right and important one to banish hate from the internet.
We at MeinMMO, GameStar, and GamePro stand against hate and discrimination.
