Valve has added a new anonymous mode to Dota 2 which blocks and limits interaction with others. It comes as a much-needed effort to stamp out abuse and toxicity.
Dota 2 has always been a toxic place, which is odd since the community is so passionate and dedicated. Valve has tried to make the game less toxic throughout the years. They’ve done everything from making the game more inviting for newcomers to adding an avoid player feature.
Unfortunately, nothing has seemed to work. Dota 2 is arguably the hardest competitive game on the market. It’s hard to learn and even harder to master. The games are long, and one small mistake can be the difference between a win and a loss. What’s more, the ranked grind is not for the faint-hearted.
The nature of the game itself is what fosters toxicity. That’s probably why Valve has had a hard time trying to extinguish the noxious flame. But that might all change now.
In one of the latest updates, Valve has added a new feature called anonymous mode which blocks avatars, nicknames and in-game chat messages.
Dota now has an Anonymous Mode. When you have this options enabled, you won't see avatars, nicknames or ingame chat messages from people you aren't friends with. Additionally, you will see not guild information from guilds that you don't belong to. #Dota2
— Wykrhm Reddy (@wykrhm) July 1, 2020
This new feature is a welcome addition. Blocking in-game chat messages isn’t a new feature, but anonymous mode makes it easier and gives you more control over what you want to see.
Plus, blocking messages isn’t always enough. It’s not uncommon to meet the same toxic players again in different games, and their presence alone can be enough to throw you off your game. But now with anonymous mode turned on, you won’t even know they’re there.
The new anonymous mode might only be a small step towards dealing with harassment and toxicity, but at least it’s a step in the right direction.
At a time where horrifying stories of harassment and sexual assault are surfacing left, right and centre, it’s important to knuckle down on online harassment too. It’s good to see Valve is making an effort, no matter how big or small.
