Xbox will allow virtual clubs. By the end of 2016, Microsoft will let Xbox users form their own virtual spaces called Clubs. This gives the player control over who comes in their club and form small gaming groups of their own.
This service will include Xbox Looking for Groups. This will help Xbox gamers look for like minded people to team up with or compete against. Such features will be discussed at the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo. Some call it E3. It’s part of Microsoft’s campaign called Gaming for Everyone. This campaign has two goals. One goal is to make gaming attractive to all segments of the population. Microsoft desperately wants to kill the idea of video gaming being just a ‘young white man’s sport’. They’ve come under fire for this issue. In March 2016, they were forced to apologize for throwing a raucous ‘boys party’ featuring scantily clad women. The second goal is to fight gaming harassment. Women gamers have complained often of bullying and sexual harassment while gaming online. African-Americans have complained of racial harassment while gaming online. Sometimes, it went beyond name calling. Sometimes, it escalated to death threats. Microsoft is giving people chances to form their own clubs. That way, they eliminate the bullies, trolls and hatemongers immediately. Plus, gamers play only with people they feel comfortable with.
I’m 80% for the Gaming for Everyone initiative. We need more diversity in gaming. There has been times where I’ve been the only black person in the gaming community. In 2016, that shouldn’t be. Nobody should be talked down to while playing video games. Nobody should be made to feel inferior. And nobody should be threatened with death or rape just because they want to play video games with the boys. But there’s the 20% of me that’s a bit cynical. How many will use these clubs to further discriminate against women and minorities? And how much of this is driven by political correctness and people being too sensitive?