Microsoft Debuts New Xbox Enforcement Strike System

Microsoft is introducing today a new enforcement strike system on Xbox that aims to better protect players from abusive behaviors. With the new system, all players will be able to see their enforcement history and better understand the consequences of multiple enforcements.

In practice, Xbox players will now receive a strike for every enforcement, and the number of strikes someone can receive will depend on the severity of their actions. As an example, profanity or cheating can result in one strike, while hate speech will result in 3 strikes.

“The system is similar to demerit strikes used in driver’s license systems in many countries. For example, a player that has received two strikes will be suspended from the platform for one day, whereas a player that receives four strikes will be suspended for seven days,” the Xbox team explained today.

Unless gamers successfully appeal enforcements, all strikes will stay on record for six months. Xbox gamers can receive a total of 8 strikes before being suspended from all Xbox social features for a full year.

If suspended players can still play single players gamers and access their purchased content, the Xbox team emphasized that it can still permanently suspend players for “the most serious violations – including illegal activity.” In that case, players will lose their Xbox account and all their purchases on the Xbox Store.