In the world of Online gaming, harassment issues have been a dark cloud looming over the community. For many female gamers, these issues have been persistent and a harsh reality that can make even the virtual space feel far from safe or welcoming.
However, Riot Games, the studio behind the popular game Valorant, has decided to make the change and introduced guidelines and regulations to keep the community in control. Even a hardware ban is an option now.
A Call for Change in the Valorant Community
Facing pressure from all over the community, Riot Games has introduced new guidelines that will aim at combating harassment. This significant step is a direct response to the outcry against toxic behavior, particularly racism and sexism, which has plagued the Valorant community for years now.
I have never made a more desperate plea that what I am about to say right now. @riotgames @RiotSupport I need you guys to fucking do something. I am an incredibly strong person and I have been streaming for a very, very long time. But absolutely nothing prepares you for someone… pic.twitter.com/Gr77uBsBrT
— TaylorMorgan (@TaylorMorganS_) May 13, 2024
Taylor Morgan is a female Twitch streamer with an impressive following of 49,000, recently faced a horrible situation where she had to leave the game due to harassment. She then reached out and asked the studio to ban these people. She said: “The suspensions are not enough. Nothing will ever stop these men from acting this way until hardware bans go into play. They should never be able to play the game again. I know you hear us. I know you see us.”
In Morgan’s plea to the developers, she asked for the permanent banning of the individuals who prolong racism and sexism within Valorant communities. For her, anything less than a permanent ban would be a failure to truly address the root causes of harassment and discrimination.
These impassioned pleas for change echo the sentiments of countless other gamers who have long faced the same situation before. All the pleas have finally reached the studio as they introduced a new set of guidelines.
A Step Forward, But More Work to Be Done
In a statement followed by the announcement of new guidelines, Anna Donlon, Riot Games’ head acknowledged that there is an urgent need to address harassment within Valorant. She said, “No one should have to grow a thicker skin to participate in our community.”
A message from @RiotSuperCakes about the current state of player behavior and upcoming changes to make our community a better place pic.twitter.com/eiwoGsB930
— VALORANT (@VALORANT) May 30, 2024
This shows that the studio is fully committed to making change towards a more positive and respectful environment for all players. Valorant Official further wrote: “We are taking actions to improve the state of player behavior in the game. If you want to make evil statements under the guise of “shit talk”, you aren’t welcome here.”
These recent actions taken by Riot Games represent a very promising start for all the players. However, it is up to both developers and players to uphold these principles and ensure that gaming remains a place where everyone can thrive.
If players are facing any harassment issues, they can directly contact the Official RiotGames Support here.
