In online games, ‘gg’ (‘good game’) is considered a sign of good sportspersonship, but ‘gg ez’ (‘good game, easy [to win]’) is just bragging. Clearly, as a big name in the online multiplayer space, Overwatch developer Blizzard is as annoyed with this type of gloating as anyone, which is why in its latest patch in the public testing realm, Overwatch has implemented a new match-wide group chat autofilter which changes ‘gg ez’ into a slightly more honest set of phrases.
The total number of filter phrases is unknown, but some of the ones players have spotted in the wild include:
- Wishing you all the best.
- Ah shucks… you guys are the best!
- Gee whiz! That was fun. Great playing!
- It was an honor to play with you all. Thank you.
- Well played. I salute you all.
…And some slightly more mocking ones:
- Mommy says people my age shouldn’t suck their thumbs.
- It’s past my bedtime. Please don’t tell my mommy.
- C’mon, Mom! One more game before you tuck me in. Oops mistell.
- I could really use a hug right now.
- I feel very, very small… please hold me…
- I’m trying to be a nicer person. It’s hard, but I’m trying, guys.
…And my personal favorite:
- I’m wrestling with some insecurity issues in my life but thank you for playing with me.
Overwatch has incorporated word filters before (say, for swearing), but this may be the start of a new attempt on Blizzard’s part to reduce toxicity by filtering negative phrases and terms as well. Obviously, ‘gg ez’ isn’t an extremely harsh put-down, so filtering it in this way could be seen as part test, part levity on the development team’s part, as it continues to explore the idea.
You can check out the autofilter in action in this video with Eurogamer’s Johnny Chiodini:
Now if only they could do something about voice chat in Quick Play…
(h/t Eurogamer.)
