Overwatch 2 listens to your voice chat, turns it into text and even evaluates it

In the future, Blizzard will listen to your voice chat in Overwatch and even write it down – this should help filter out trolls and nasty people.

With Overwatch 2, Blizzard is doing things differently. This not only affects content and gameplay, but also methods of monitoring and collecting evidence when players misbehave. Because the voice chat in Overwatch 2 is logged and immediately evaluated when violations are reported.

what was said In a long blog post, the developers of Overwatch 2 described how they want to fight negative behavior more. One method they have been developing over the past few months and years is audio transcription, which will be introduced shortly after launch.

In practice, this means that Overwatch 2 temporarily saves your voice chat communications. If a player is reported for their behavior in voice chat, the software automatically creates a transcript (i.e. a written version) of the spoken words. The sound recording will then be deleted immediately. The saved text is then checked for violations and disruptive behavior using chat screening tools, and possible sanctions are then applied based on this.

The transcript is stored for a maximum of 30 days and is then deleted.

Why is Overwatch 2 doing this? In recent years, Blizzard has made it its mission to take particularly strong action against negativity, insults and harassment. Especially now that Overwatch is becoming a Free2Play game with the successor, there is a risk that the tone of voice could deteriorate.

Blizzard has therefore taken several preventive measures to make Overwatch 2 a friendly and positive environment.

What other measures have been taken? A whole row. Toxicity should be significantly reduced, which is why the following points happen in Overwatch 2:

All Overwatch 2 accounts must be equipped with SMS Protect. Each phone number can only be linked to one account.

In addition, newcomers experience some limitations for the first 100 or so matches. You mainly play against other newcomers and can only choose some of the heroes. They also unlock all game modes, as well as features like voice chat and match chat. So fresh accounts can not troll immediately, but would first have to invest time in the game. These restrictions are gradually being lifted, but are always disabled if the newcomer is playing in a group with friends who are already further along.

Last but not least, the player levels disappear and with them the portrait frames that were associated with the level. Blizzard has found that frames have been a constant source of slurs on players, either because they’re “far too low level,” or vice versa, because someone doesn’t live up to the expectations that come with high level.

What do you think of the measures? Do you think it’s okay that Overwatch 2 saves your voice chat and maybe evaluates it? Or do you think this is definitely going too far?