Ubisoft and Riot Games have announced a new initiative called 'Zero Harms in Comms' to tackle abusive and potentially harmful chat in gaming.
The main objective of the project is to collect in-game data that can be used to provide better training for AI-based automated moderation. A study taken in 2021 by cross-platform game engine Unity found that 68% of players say they have experienced forms of toxicity, including, but not limited to, sexual harassment, hate speech, threats of violence, and doxing.
What we're trying to do is, based on the type of games that we have, the different kinds of communities and games that we are operating, we're trying to find a common practical solution to solve one key aspect.
Yves Jacquier, Executive Director, Ubisoft
It is hoped that the combination of Riot's highly competitive games and Ubisoft's very diversified portfolio can help to create a comprehensive database of toxic or disruptive behaviors that will enhance the training of AI moderation systems. Both companies are also committed to sharing the learnings and outcomes of the project with the wider gaming industry next year.
Disruptive player behavior is an issue that we take very seriously but also one that is very difficult to solve. At Ubisoft, we have been working on concrete measures to ensure safe and enjoyable experiences, but we believe that, by coming together as an industry, we will be able to tackle this issue more effectively.
Yves Jacquier, Executive Director, Ubisoft
The collaboration between Ubisoft and Riot Games has also broken new ground, as it is the first time independent gaming companies have come together to openly share internal data related to toxic interactions.
We're hoping this partnership allows us to safely share data between our companies to tackle some of these harder issues. By sharing data, we're actually building a bigger pool of training data, and we will be able to really detect this disruptive behavior and ultimately remove it from our games.
Wesley Kerr, Director of Software Engineering, Riot Games
Both active members of the Fair Play Alliance, Ubisoft and Riot Games, believe that the creation of safe and meaningful online experiences in games can only come through collective action and shared knowledge. Hopefully, this initiative will serve as the foundation for creating gaming structures that foster more rewarding online experiences and reduce potentially harmful or disruptive interactions.