Big change in the new update has fans up in arms

Minecraft will continue to receive updates with new blocks, monsters, or other features at regular intervals. However, parts of the community are now vocally opposing Mojang’s new rules for moderating Minecraft servers. Are the fears justified?

Mojang Studios wants to moderate Minecraft servers more

The Minecraft community is in turmoil. The reason for this is the new reporting system in the latest update of the Java version. Namely, players can now report other players’ chat messages when they are there “inappropriate messages or dangerous behavior” notices. This new regulation also affects private Minecraft servers.

Game developer Mojang Studios justifies this decision with the fact that the Community Guidelines should apply to all Minecraft players. In addition, all players should feel safe online, even if the respective server itself offers no possibility to take action against harassment.

However, numerous players fear that Abuse of the system and censorship by Mojang. A suspension also affects the entire multiplayer and not just individual servers. On Twitter, the fans express their displeasure #saveminecraft air and the comments on Reddit speak a clear language (source: Reddit).

Mojang wants to reassure Minecraft players

In an FAQ, Mojang addressed the fears of the players. For example, players could not be banned for swear words. Offenses that can be punished with a suspension are Hate speech, bullying, harassment, sexual assault or threats of violence. A ban can be temporary, but in extreme cases it can also be permanent.

Another common complaint from players is that the Context of messages could not be recognized or that Mojang will start banning unwanted players on its own. The developer clarifies that the moderators will also be able to see the chat messages written shortly before and after a reported post. Furthermore, Mojang would only intervene at all if chat messages were also reported manually (Source: mojang).

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Can the system in Minecraft be manipulated?

The concerns of the players are certainly not unfounded. After all, automated reporting systems in particular are known for often to strike rigorously and easily manipulated through mass reporting. Many players report a message at once, which can then end with an automatic ban.

Mojang wants to calm things down again and states that the amount of reports has no influence on the moderators’ decision and that behind a lock too always a person’s decision. However, in the coming weeks and months, Mojang must now also prove that fans’ fears were unfounded and that Minecraft doesn’t need saving at all.