Overwatch Game: Are Your Kids Talking with Strangers?

Overwatch is a multiplayer first-person shooter game available on Windows, XBox One, and PS4 that is incredibly popular with students. Kids love playing Overwatch because as long as a player keeps playing the game, they will earn more rewards – this is a form of gamification that encourages kids to play more and more. Overwatch only works if players are matched onto teams with other real people which means that your child will be exposed to strangers in every game.

What is the Overwatch game?

Overwatch is a multiplayer first-person shooter game
The game assigns players into two teams of six
Players choose their character (called ‘heroes’) from 30 options. Each character has unique capabilities which are broken into 3 categories
The players on a team work together to secure and defend certain places on a map or escort a payload across the map during a limited amount of time
Players earn rewards as they play the game that do not affect gameplay, like victory poses and character skins
Overwatch is available on Windows, XBox One, and PS4
The game has a bright and cartoonish animation style, similar to Fortnite
Players can buy loot boxes using real money to get character skins which alter the appearance of their characters

3 categories of abilities:

Damage heroes deal most of the damage to attack or defend control points
Tank heroes can absorb a large amount of damage
Support heroes provide healing or other buffs for their teammates

Overwatch in the news:

Modern video gaming revolves heavily around multiplayer titles, such as Fortnite… and Overwatch, that rely on interpersonal communication to coordinate strategies, much like a real-world sports team. Unlike a game of pickup basketball, however, online games will match-make teams out of random players, identifiable only by pseudonyms, thereby giving strangers a direct channel to another player’s headset via the game’s voice chat. ‘It certainly looks like the effect on adolescents and children in general is quite negative,’ said [the] head of pediatric mental health at Louisiana State University. ‘There’s a higher incidence of depression.’
–Washington Post

An incredibly disappointing Overwatch clip has gone viral and shocked the gaming community over the past 24 hours. In a video the unfiltered and unchecked nature of Overwatch’s toxic voice chat has been shown in full force. The clip portrays an incident where the player was ganged up on and bullied by a group of obscenely racist and prejudiced ‘teammates’ during an Overwatch game.
–Daily eSports

Why do kids like playing?

Regardless of whether or not players win a match, they gain experience towards a player level
When players go up a level, they receive loot boxes that contain items that can be used to customize the appearance of the hero characters
As long as a player keeps playing the game, they will earn more rewards – this is a form of gamification that encourages kids to play more and more

Why should parents care?

Overwatch only works if players are matched onto teams with other real people
This means that your child will be exposed to strangers in every game if they want to play Overwatch
Playing with strangers is a huge red flag that a game can be dangerous
When your kids play multiplayer games while wearing headsets, they’re a million miles away – even if you’re sitting in the same room as them
Students who chat on multiplayer games can come across inappropriate language and bullying behavior
In the past, the developers have been criticized for over-sexualizing characters and promoting cultural stereotypes
There are reports of the community becoming increasingly toxic and negative
Overwatch is incredibly popular and is considered “one of the best games of all time” by critics

What parents say about Overwatch:

Some players in this game are very toxic and your teen WILL be exposed to this
What do I mean by toxic? First off, the language. Toxic players often throw insults and personal attacks. The anonymity of the game (as with the web) brings out the worst in people.

Not for young children
The reason this is 18+ is because of microphones. Whether it be quick play or competitive your child can talk with adults if they have a mic. Commonly in the game chat people will curse and use adult language around other children. You might ask “Can’t you just turn off the game chat/not use it?” The answer is yes. But, especially in competitive you NEED mic for communication. If you don’t a mic you are essentially throwing the game. In Overwatch team play really matters and without communicating it’ll be near impossible to win a game.

Source: Common Sense Media

What can parents do?

Always monitor your kids during game time – it’s even better when parents play the game with their children
Keep gaming consoles in the living room so you can supervise game time
Say no to headsets. Headsets leave students vulnerable to connecting with strangers
Gaming disorder is considered a mental health condition. Look out for any warning signs that your child is addicted to video games:
- Impaired control over gaming (e.g. onset, frequency, intensity, duration, termination, context)
- Increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities
- Continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences

Conclusion

Due to the fact that players need to communicate with strangers in order to be successful in the game, we do not recommend it for students. When students where headsets while gaming it’s nearly impossible for parents to monitor them – even if they’re in the same room. While Overwatch’s animation style is bright and cartoonish like Fortnite, that doesn’t mean it is safe for students. We recommend that parents always monitor their kids during game time and keep an eye out for any warning signs that they are becoming addicted to gaming.

How do you keep your kids safe on games like Overwatch? Let us know in the comments below!