Dota 2 fights negativity with Overwatch review

Valve finally added its new exciting feature to combat negativity and cheating in Dota 2 with Overwatch, a community review program.

Today’s update introduces a powerful tool to help the community regulate negative behavior amongst its ranks — Overwatch. Learn more: https://t.co/M4EUkRE8Ou pic.twitter.com/TFUaM3XEyd

— DOTA 2 (@DOTA2) January 27, 2021

Overwatch Community Review 

This system lets good-standing members of the Dota 2 community review videos of suspects. Rather than relying purely on player reports, this creates more authenticity when determining valid problems. As reports go through for disruptive behaviors, eligible players get the option to review a case. These cases are video replays focused on times when the suspected player displayed the negative behavior. The Dota 2 Overwatch player will comb through the replay to confirm or deny if the report was accurate. They choose between the options of guilty, not guilty, or insufficient evidence.

Not everyone is eligible to participate in the community review system. To begin with, Valve will enable a growing number of accounts to participate in Dota 2 Overwatch over the next couple of weeks. Reviewers each hold an accuracy score which decides if they can continue participating or not. Players who often falsely convict will receive lower accuracy scores, which eventually removes their eligibility. Those who are eligible to review cases can see a notification below their profile picture.

This new Dota 2 Overwatch community feature was teased back in October and confirmed in November. While Valve worked on the Mistwoods Update. they shared progress on Overwatch and how it will be used to evaluate negative behavior and cheaters. Seeing its success in CS:GO for over five years, Valve decided to bring this moderation system over to Dota 2.

Dota 2 Communication and Chat Bans

To help smooth the process for normal Dota 2 players, reports can be made in-game through the scoreboard now and are different from Overwatch reports. These report instances set flags for Overwatch case reviewers to look over. The same player can be reported more than once too, although Overwatch reports are distinct from communication reports. Normal communication reports from before still work the same and issue at the end of the game.

But Valve looks to change the game for communication reports and bans too. Now, instead of stopping chat banned Dota 2 players from typing or using voice chat during games, they get muted by default. It’s up to the muted player’s teammates if they want to unmute them, knowing that they recently displayed negative behavior. Even the banned players get a reminder of their muted status if they try to communicate.

A major problem in competitive video games is how quickly some can become toxic or negative. Developers and publishers constantly look for ways to reduce this in-game. Valve found success with the Overwatch community review system in CS:GO and now brings it to Dota 2. Players will start seeing the results of this in the next few weeks as players become eligible to review cases.

Written by Justin Amin

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