LOS ANGELES (AP) – Microsoft is making it easier for gamers who share the same passions or even gender to meet and play with each other online, a step toward curbing online harassment.
The company is adding a feature called “looking for group” that will allow Xbox Live gamers to use search terms to find players interested in teaming up on certain games.
For example, if a female “Halo 5” fan only wants to blast away aliens with other women, or a dad gamer doesn’t want any trash-talking during his “Killer Instinct” matches, they can use the new feature to search for compatible players online.
The “looking for group” feature will include pre-set search terms created by Microsoft, as well the option for users to make their own. It’ll be available this fall, along with the ability for Xbox Live players to form “clubs” that can be private or open to all.
“I think it’ll make safe spaces for people who are currently hesitant to go online,” said Shannon Loftis, head of publishing at Microsoft Game Studios. “If you can make an environment more predictable by knowing who you’ll be playing with and on what games, that’s a way more inviting experience.”