https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2019/05/20/video-games-a-unifying-force-for-the-world/
Worth a a read because it’s heartening to see tbh.
Now I don’t think things would have been that much different, because people seem to tend towards being jerks when anonymous, but I still think MS themselves have to bear some responsibility for the state gaming is in now. The OG Xbox Live was so heavily marketed on the back of smack talk with complete strangers it really wasn’t going to go any other way.
I have a theory about gaming online, in that if the single player rewards being a dick, then that’s how the multiplayer is going to turn out too. See racing games where bashing the AI off the road works better than skilful racing.
The way Xbox and therefore all subsequent online gaming was sold to the masses, pretty much mirrors this imo.
Still, it’s great that they’re finally taking it on head first.
