Baldur’s Gate 3 Player Bans on Xbox Series X-S
Last week, players of Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox Series X-S experienced unexpected bans after uploading clips from the game that contained full nudity within romance scenes. This issue has prompted a collaboration between the game’s developer, Larian Studios, and Microsoft to find a resolution. The bans were a result of the game’s content, which includes mature scenes not unlike those found in other RPGs such as Dragon Age: Origins or Mass Effect, but with the addition of digital nudity.
Xbox’s Response to Bans
Addressing the concerns regarding the bans of Baldur’s Gate 3 players, Xbox Support clarified that the suspensions were not automated. Each clip that is uploaded is reviewed by a moderator to determine if it violates Xbox’s safety and content policies. If a clip is found to be in breach of these policies, which include restrictions on “nudity and sexual content,” appropriate action is taken.
- Xbox account suspensions are not automatic; each clip is reviewed by a human moderator.
- The content policy of Xbox prohibits nudity and sexual content.
- Appeals are evaluated by the Xbox team, and suspensions can be reversed if an error was made.
- For first offences, Xbox may remove the suspension and provide guidance to avoid future issues.
- Xbox suggests turning off auto-upload for capturing sensitive content.
Auto-Upload Feature and Player Bans
The auto-upload feature on Xbox has been a significant factor in the recent bans of Baldur’s Gate 3 players. By default, the Xbox system is set to automatically upload gameplay clips, which has led to the unintentional sharing of content that violates Xbox’s content policy. Xbox suggests that players opt-out of this feature when sensitive content is likely to be captured.
| Default Setting | Recommended Setting |
|---|---|
| Automatic uploading is standard | Turn off auto-upload for sensitive content |
Community Reaction and Advice
The community’s reaction to the bans of Baldur’s Gate 3 players has been one of surprise and concern, particularly due to the fact that the auto-upload feature is enabled by default. In response to a query about account suspensions related to this default setting, Xbox Support offered the following advice on Twitter:
Please follow our Official Xbox Support page on Twitter in order to be able to get a Direct Message regarding the issue you are encountering.
— Xbox Support @XboxSupport.twitter.com (@XboxSupport) March 24, 2023
This guidance suggests that affected players should engage directly with Xbox Support for assistance with their specific issues.
Playing Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC: A Personal Perspective
The author expresses relief at playing Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC, where the control over game clips is more straightforward. On PC, screenshots and clips are stored locally, giving players the freedom to capture moments from the game without the worry of automatic uploads or potential bans. This level of control ensures that players can save their in-game experiences privately and review them at their leisure, without stepping into the complexities of content policies and moderation present on other platforms.
