Virtual reality is creatinga new way to interact with gamesand other game-like environments. Just like any other type of gaming, this can also give rise to inappropriate behavior or rudeness. With this in mind, it appears that Sony is taking steps to patent a system for shadow banning players utilizing the PlayStation VR.
Shadowbanning, as it is typically defined, is being banned without immediately knowing the reason or cause. This happens in many games likeOverwatch, orLeague of Legends. A general reason is given for the ban afterward, but players are either limited or completely removed from the gaming experience. While similar things like this exist via the VR route, such as inappropriate text, it has been difficult to implement this entirely due to the nature of VR being completely body intensive. It seems that Sony has found a possible way.
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According to a patent submitted, Sony provides the reason for such a system is toremove players known as “griefers"via shadow ban based on gestures and language. Sony acknowledges that ignoring or confrontation with such players can just increase harassment and that shadow banning is the best method to deal with the “griefers.”
Sony goes on to describe how the technology will handle shadow bannable offenses, detecting different types of movements and gestures, as well as detecting how close a player is to another. Different factors will also play out for players as they will get ratings based upon actions such as language or inappropriate touching, such as groping. For each action that can add up to a shadowban, a numerical score will be added to a player’s total rating. Once the score has exceeded the safety threshold, a shadowban signal will be sent to remove the player.
Shadowbans are a touchy subject in terms of gaming. While they can definitely improve the quality of gameplay and overall mood of the game, it can also be a system that sets up forpeople being banned over small or non-offenses. Cases like this can often be seen in games likeLeague of Legendswhere someone isn’t necessarily griefing, but is voicing an opinion, and receives a warning or ban from an automatic system. With so much detail going into the shadowban system for PlayStation VR, and the type of activity that can be perceived and seen in VR, it appears that Sony may be on the right path.
The patent for the shadowban system for PlayStation VR was submitted on May 4, and as of right now, there is no word as to how and when it will be implemented. How this affects VR for the future remains to be seen.
