Xbox One Plans Good Behavior Rewards

Microsoft has announced at Game Developers Conference that they're currently revisiting the idea of actively rewarding players with consistently good behavior and feedback.

The idea of encouraging players to behave themselves decently is not new to Xbox, or even video game developers in general. Recent years have seen a trend of developers fighting back against the toxic and aggressive players that give their MMO communities a bad reputation in different ways, and with varying levels of success.

Currently, Xbox One uses the reputation system, which functions primarily by giving players a taste of their own medicine in regards to who they get matched with for online games. Specifically, upstanding players are more frequently matched with other good-natured players, and those subject to frequent blocking and other disciplinary action are relegated to a special matchmaking layer reserved only for those with similar consistent bad behavior.

However, this latest announcement by Microsoft looks to take a more proactive approach to encouraging good sportsmanship by developing a reward system for players who are consistently well-behaved. While the idea is still in the brainstorming stage, Microsoft sees it as a way to move away from punishment in favor of a more positive approach to improving Xbox One's online community.