PlayFab Integration: Moderation Tools

Moderation Tools allow your VR fangame to manage bans, warnings, staff actions, and player safety using PlayFab’s secure backend.
Because VR games are multiplayer and community‑driven, a strong moderation system is essential for protecting players and preventing abuse.

This page explains how PlayFab moderation works, what tools you can build, and how to keep everything secure.

1. What PlayFab Moderation Tools Do

PlayFab provides built‑in systems to:

• Ban players

• Unban players

• View ban history

• Add moderation notes

• Track staff actions

• Store moderation flags

• Restrict access to features

• Enforce age‑based restrictions (PAG)

These tools help you maintain a safe and fair community.

2. Types of Bans

PlayFab supports multiple ban types:

A. Temporary Bans

• Last for a set duration

• Used for minor or first‑time offenses

B. Permanent Bans

• Used for severe or repeated violations

C. IP Bans (Optional)

• Blocks all accounts from the same IP

• Not recommended for VR games due to shared networks

D. Feature Bans

• Restrict specific features instead of the entire game
  Examples:

• Muted

• Cannot join public rooms

• Cannot use voice chat

• Cannot trade or gift items

3. Moderation Data Storage

Moderation data is stored in:

A. PlayFab Ban System

• Official ban records

• Start/end dates

• Reason

• Staff member who issued the ban

B. Player Data (UserData)

Used for:

• Mute flags

• Age group (PAG)

• Behavior flags

• Warning counts

• Shadowban flags

C. Title Data

Used for:

• Global moderation rules

• Auto‑ban thresholds

• Word filters

• Staff permissions

4. Staff Tools You Can Build

Using PlayFab + CloudScript, you can create secure staff tools such as:

A. Ban Manager

• Search for players

• Issue bans

• Unban players

• View ban history

B. Player Lookup Tool

• View inventory

• View stats

• View moderation flags

• View login history

C. Currency Manager

• Add/subtract currency

• Log staff actions

D. Item Granting Tool

• Grant cosmetics

• Grant event items

• Grant staff items

E. Moderation Dashboard

• Real‑time reports

• Player behavior logs

• Auto‑moderation triggers

All of these should be staff‑only and protected by CloudScript.

5. Moderation Flow in a VR Fangame

A typical moderation flow looks like this:

1. Staff member reports or detects an issue

2. Staff uses a secure tool to search for the player

3. Staff reviews:

   • Ban history

   • Player Data flags

   • Reports

4. Staff issues a ban or warning

5. CloudScript logs the action

6. PlayFab updates the player’s ban status

7. The game blocks access or features

This ensures consistency and accountability.

6. Auto‑Moderation (Optional)

You can build automated systems using:

• CloudScript

• Title Data

• Analytics events

Examples:

• Auto‑mute for repeated slurs

• Auto‑ban for cheating flags

• Auto‑kick for exploit detection

• Auto‑warn for spam

These systems help reduce staff workload.

7. Best Practices

• Never allow the client to issue bans

• Always validate staff permissions in CloudScript

• Log every staff action

• Keep moderation notes simple and factual

• Use Title Data for global moderation rules

• Use Player Data for non‑sensitive flags

• Use PlayFab’s built‑in ban system for official bans

8. Moderation + Photon

Photon can work with PlayFab moderation to:

• Block banned players from joining rooms

• Restrict voice chat

• Prevent joining public lobbies

• Sync moderation flags to room properties

This is covered in Photon + PlayFab Linking.