Why Did I Receive A Suspension For A Completely Innocuous Screenshot?

ANUBIS_NYC · Nov 2, 2022

I took a screenshot of WWE 2K22 gameplay and received an incoherent suspension for it.

If you’re a wrestling fan or have played any of the WWE 2K games you’ll understand my experience better.

I typically play a retro WWF and WCW universe mode - nothing bizarre - no weird create-a-wrestlers - everything I do in in WWE 2K22 is based on actual wrestling events from 1993-1995.

I’m skilled in graphic design so I enjoy using the creation suite in this game, I make great textures in Photoshop and upload those textures for use in the game. I created the Hollywood Blonds tag-team in WWE2K22 - the team consists of my CAW Stunning Steve Austin and CAW Brian Pillman. Currently they are tag-team champions in my WCW Universe Mode.

In WWE 2K22 before a championship match the camera pans to the champion(s) holding the belt(s) - I enjoy capturing the look and feel of the arenas and superstars from the era I’m playing in Universe Mode and I also enjoy taking screenshots of cool moments. So before the match which had The Hollywood Blonds the in-game camera panned to them with the championship belts draped over their shoulders - I thought it looked cool so I took a screenshot and thought nothing of it.

Fast forward 7 days and I receive a suspension for that screenshot... it’s about as ordinary of a screenshot of this game as can be. Like I mentioned earlier, I only upload logos and create wrestlers who exist in real life - nothing that could even remotely be considered offensive in any way.

I’m appalled that a suspension could happen for taking a screenshot of a completely banal and inoffensive gameplay moment.

I’ve included the screenshot that got me suspended - like I said if you’re a wrestling/WWE 2K fan you’ll recognize this as completely normal moment in the game.

Why would this screenshot trigger a suspension? (Since the photo was hidden from my feed with a gavel icon in its place I had to set the photo as my wallpaper and take a photo of my TV screen to see the screenshot that got me wrongfully suspended)

Why do wrongful suspensions happen? It’s unacceptable!

:)

Georges C.

Hello again, we saw some similar reports in the community, however Enforcement support is the part and only communicado when you make some appeal for a suspension, we in the community or even xbox support can't provide you with any information on why this is happening.

Georges C.

Hello, first it's a pleasure to be able to help you today.

My name is welcome to the community.

Hello ANUBIS_NYC, this forum is public viewing and unfortunately as independent consultants we do not have access there is some data such as those of suspensions and bans made by Enforcement.

Protecting players from offensive imagery

https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/family-onli...

Types of Xbox enforcement actions

https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/family-onli...

ANUBIS_NYC

Hi Georges,

Looking at the offensive image guidelines there is absolutely nothing about my screenshot that could be deemed offensive.

For starters this is a WWE wrestling game there isn’t mature or vulgar content in this game. Secondly, my screenshot is just two wrestlers with championships belts over their shoulders - nothing abnormal in the slightest, this is not an image of mods, my screenshot is 100% ordinary and inoffensive.

I’ve seen other reports about this issue happening with other users, it’s absolutely unacceptable - if I was litigious I would file a lawsuit so an investigation could take place to expose why gamers are getting suspended for innocuous images of inoffensive ordinary gaming moments.

Goth Vampirella

From someone who is just browsing the threads, I'll say... there is nothing wrong with the screenshot. The same thing happened to me. I'll also let you know since my suspension was 3 days I couldn't even appeal. IT IS A JOKE AND NO ONE HERE CAN JUSTIFY IT.

ANUBIS_NYC

Hi Georges,

The appeals process is something I'm keenly aware of as I already submitted an appeal the day I received my wrongful suspension. As I suspected Microsoft Enforcement has not only wrongfully suspended my account, but they haven't responded to my request for an appeal.

The bottom line is, wrongful suspensions should not happen to anyone. Microsoft Enforcement is severely flawed and these unjust suspensions/bans are likely due to incompetence, immature employees, vindictive employees, or poor detection software.

The Microsoft Enforcement department needs to be investigated because they act with impunity and attack gamers with bogus claims of violating guidelines. Again, look at the screenshot that got me suspended - it's literally just an ordinary gameplay moment in WWE 2K22 - it's about as inoffensive as it gets. It's just a tag-team holding championship belts in a wrestling game - if an innocuous and ordinary screenshot can trigger a suspension that's clearly indicative of incompetence on the part of Microsft Enforcement employees or flawed detection software.

The appeals process is useless because even with wrongful suspensions - as in my case - it's been 72 hours since my suspension and Microsoft Enforcement still hasn't acknowledged their wrongdoing or appealed my wrongful suspension.

Why Did I Receive A Suspension For A Completely Innocuous Screenshot?