Riot Games places a strong emphasis on addressing toxicity in Valorant. On May 30, 2024, Studio Head Anna Donlon took the time to communicate with fans about ongoing efforts to reduce toxic behavior within the game. However, it appears that toxicity reports related to user @ReQzvl have escalated into a controversy. The player took to social media to reveal that they received a 7-day ban after merely typing “gg” and “wp” in the chat.
The original poster (OP) shared interactions with Riot Support after appealing the ban, only to discover that the cause was a seemingly innocent comment made in All Chat. They stated:
“I logged back into Valorant only to find I’ve been hit with a 7-day ban for allegedly abusing text chat… I decided to appeal and received this response regarding my ban?”
In no time, the gaming community was rife with players sharing their own experiences and opinions on the matter. User @Sidemoee recounted a similar incident, stating:
“I also faced a week-long ban. Valorant is just a joke, lol.”
This situation for the OP might not be unique. Many gamers expressed confusion regarding why such innocuous phrases would lead to a ban. Terms like “gg”(good game) and “wp”(well played) are commonplace in various gaming contexts. User @twowen3sin articulated their bewilderment over the entire situation.
@heinzmissed also expressed their opinion, finding it peculiar that players were being banned for ambiguous violations. For them, the entire scenario was far from amusing, stating:
“Seriously, man, it’s not even funny anymore that they’re banning for basically anything.”
Conversely, @wabakapex seemed to wish that the OP’s ban would be extended from a week to a month. They believed the comments made in chat had a sarcastic undertone directed towards the opposing team, remarking:
“Looks like a clear case of sarcasm to me. Given it’s Valorant, I wouldn’t call it a ‘good game’ or ‘well played’ either (for those who may not know, that’s what gg and wp mean). I really hope they make the ban last a month.”
Lastly, @MadlyMaude shared a similar sentiment, suggesting that the praise the OP gave via All Chat appeared sarcastic. They noted that the sarcasm was quite evident in the screenshots that the user included in the initial post.
Importance of Tackling Toxic Behavior in Valorant
Valorant necessitates teamwork, making it crucial to eliminate toxic players who could jeopardize a team’s success. To cultivate a positive gaming environment, Riot Games strictly prohibits chat abuse, including racial slurs and derogatory comments. Many players end up facing bans—either for voice or text violations—due to inappropriate language.
Moreover, Riot Games is considering the introduction of hardware bans in order to prevent repeat offenders from rejoining the game and disrupting the experience for other members of the Valorant community.
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