Steam has added a pretty cool feature to be implemented in its games, allowing players to block out various offensive words. The forward-thinking feature has the chance to set a standard in gaming.
Valve’s Steam Lab program allows players to test out various features in a beta-like setting. On Thursday, Steam released Experiment 011, the Steam Text and Chat Filtering feature. It allows players to block out language in game text and chat that they may find offensive.
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The new idea does not outright ban words or phrases, but it will filter them so that the blocked-out words will show up as symbols. It works across supported games and chat, which is certainly useful with toxic situations that the gaming community can sometimes be known for.
By default, two lists will be able to be selected if players want to block out offensive language. One includes profanity and slurs, and the other includes racial, ethnic, and religious slurs. However, players will be able to alter and add whatever words and phrases they’d like in the filter, similar to Twitter’s muted words feature. Players will still see in-game subtitles or that someone has posted a chat, but whichever words or phrases that have been added to the Text and Chat Filtering feature will be blocked by the symbol icons. Valve, which has started making games again, believes this empowers players.
We believe this level of control is especially important given that language is constantly evolving and is used differently among various communities around the world.
Accessibility in video games is a good thing. Whether it’s customizable button layouts or filters for toxic language, having options is wonderful for gamers.
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Source: Valve
