Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Wants Cross-Platform User Bans - Nintendo Life

It seems normal now, but you don't have to go too far back to get to a time when the concept of cross-play - online multiplayer across different platforms - was fanciful?

The huge growth of online multiplayer, and especially free-to-play, has opened up cross-play as a relatively common feature.

As part of a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times (paywall) (via Eurogamer), Xbox boss Phil Spencer highlighted cross-platform user bans and blocks as something on his wishlist, albeit acknowledging that it wouldn't be easy to implement.

[I would like to] be able to bring my banned user list...

@Ralizah ...I think this article was confusing.

He was talking about user created block lists, not account bans from the system runners!

For instance if someone is stalking me on the PlayStation Network, I can also block him on Nintendo Switch Online.

I think he means well with that suggestion but I’m not convinced.

a single controlled ban list..

I only collected OG XBOX and XBOX 360 games, just for DDR and Kinect games.

I don't even think about getting XBOX ONE and Series X/S.

I don’t know how exactly you would enforce that, but if it deters abusive gaming behavior even slightly, it’s definitely worth it in my opinion.

It's high time that abusive players stop getting away with loopholes in online systems.

@Ralizah no idea how it works with regular account bans on consoles (I don't know anybody being banned on them).

But I do know few people that got a used system that was banned on hardware level, that's actually even worse.

But I know few people having VAC bans (they are easy to get though...) and those people can access their games, they are banned from being able to play VAC based games online however.

I think that bans should be game based, and if you really overdo it then a account ban could be one of the possibilities.

You know dam well this would mean that you would have to agree to have your details shared between all the included companies.

I don't see twitter and facebook doing a great job in this area so what makes you think these would.

I just wish people were kinder to each other.

I rarely play online anymore because of negative experiences involving targeted homophobia.

These people need better managed bans and the ability to block IP addresses, not just single accounts.

On Instagram you can block people and also block any future accounts they make, this would be a great addition.

Some people are just f**king horrible

If people are harassing you they should obviously be blocked, but I don't see why it has to be universal just to save the extra steps of blocking people a second or third time

That is what Spencer is suggesting is a way to carry your personal blocklist from Xbox Live, to Switch Online, to PSN

I don't think it's a bad idea, I just don't know how necessary it is to save people a couple of steps

Like Twitch Streamers, Influencers, high-school kids, those who receive the brunt of the crap that appears online

It would get extensively frustrating for those who have to block potentially the same account several times just to get some peace and quiet

@Wexter that's okay, I know there are demographics of gamers where this is a lot more relevant because they're putting themselves out there and getting constant, targeted abuse

He's not talking about banning all users from services across all platforms, he's on about a user taking their personal block list across services

Edit: I don't actually block many people, my block list on xbox is made up almost entirely of smurf accounts

That's actually a bigger issue, especially on xbox

There's huge amounts of people who use smurf accounts to get around being abusive or to just game the matchmaking systems and ruin everything

I play a number of online games, granted mostly cooperative but I really have a non-existent block list

Imagine if i got banned from PS, Xbox, and Nintendo as a result of the hacker getting banned like they did on Activision..

Analyst Predicts 2024 Release Date For Next-Gen Nintendo Switch Successor

GoldenEye 007 Is Getting A Digital Release On Xbox

News Aspyr's Star Wars Games On Switch Are Currently Up To 50% Off (US)

30 Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games To Look Forward To In 2022

Best Nintendo Switch Fitness And Exercise Games

Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Wants Cross-Platform User Bans

Best Nintendo Switch Open-World Games

Join 1,263,110 people following Nintendo Life: