Epic Games is taking an additional step to curb inappropriate behavior in Fortnite by introducing a new voice reporting feature, allowing players to clip audio and anonymously file a report whenever they catch another player violating the community rules.
In a blog post, Epic reveals that the feature will always be on for voice chats for players under 18, with the only ways to avoid audio capture either turning off voice chat entirely or muting their mic. Players over the age of 18 will have the option to customize their voice chat reporting features by heading into the audio settings.
When a user is filing a report, audio from the last five minutes is uploaded and sent to Epic’s moderators, who will review the file. Any audio captured after five minutes is deleted. Epic notes that the last five minutes of voice chat audio is captured “on a rolling basis,” noting that the clips are “securely captured” on your device (your PlayStation or Xbox, etc), but Epic does not store these clips on its servers.
Voice clips used to file a report are deleted automatically after 14 days “or the duration of the sanction,” according to Epic. However, if the Fortnite makers need to keep the clip for legal reasons, “it will be retained for as long as legally required.”
Epic’s new voice chat reporting feature echoes similar moves rolled out by Microsoft, Riot Games, and Sony, where all three companies introduced new voice chat recording tools to help crack down on inappropriate behavior in online multiplayer games.
The new feature comes the same day Epic implemented a new policy, adding age ratings into “all first and third-party playable content” in Fortnite.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
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