Three major gaming companies, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony, have released a joint statement reiterating their commitment to safer gaming. 

A statement released by Kim Kunes, Vice President of Gaming Trust & Safety at Xbox, said that Microsoft has been working behind the scenes with Nintendo and Sony since 2020. The collaboration strives to “provide experiences that are positive and enjoyable for all, especially for our youngest players.”

The companies note three shared principles: 

• Prevention: Empower players and parents to understand and control gaming experiences
• Partnership: Partner with industry peers, publishers, regulators, law enforcement, and communities to advance player safety
• Responsibility: Hold the gaming companies accountable for making platforms as safe as possible for all players

Kunes adds, “The video game industry has a strong legacy of prioritizing player safety, especially for children.”

Companies Aim To Reduce Harmful Content, Including Gambling

One of the measures the companies take to ensure child safety is to remove content unsuitable for young players, such as violence and gambling. 

A recent report showed that minors frequently engage in gambling, using skins and items from games on third-party sites. 

The phenomenon is particularly common with items in Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2, but games available on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo consoles have also faced accusations of encouraging gambling.

A court in Austria ruled FUT packs constitute illegal gambling under local law, forcing refunds. The decision required Sony to refund users for the money spent on Ultimate Team packs, and EA to label the games as “gambling games” and require a license to use them.

The new statement says the companies “comply with all applicable laws in the places we do business and respond to legitimate requests from law enforcement.”

Several other European countries have also been targeting loot boxes, with Spain launching a campaign against the use of random rewards in games. 

The three companies previously introduced a rule that requires game developers to clearly show loot box drop rates. 

Roblox A Prominent Game Accused Of Harming Children

Roblox has attracted a lot of negative attention over child safety fears. The game is available on Xbox and PlayStation, but not on the Switch. 

It was recently banned in Russia over claims it harms young people. Notably, the main concerns cited by Russian authorities were over its promotion of LGBT propaganda. 

The platform has also been accused of allowing children to be exposed to sexual content and encouraging gambling. 

Last year, CEO David Baszucki said in response to concerns over child safety, “if you’re not comfortable, don’t let your kids be on Roblox”. He also said he would have no problem allowing children to gamble on prediction markets through the game. Although he did say this should be done in an educational way, that is legal. 

Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo said they understand some games will be subjected to criticism, but by uniting believe they can protect players. The statement ended by encouraging others to join their commitment, stating, “we recognize that these challenges require collaboration and shared values, and so we welcome others to commit to the safety and well-being of players everywhere.”