Designed for Hostility? Toxic Behavior and Ambivalent Game Elements in Online Multiplayer Game Genres

Paper Title

Designed for Hostility? Toxic Behavior and Ambivalent Game Elements in Online Multiplayer Game Genres

Publication Info

• Topic area: Toxic behavior in online multiplayer games across genres and design elements.
• Keywords: Toxic behavior, multiplayer games, game design, gamification, leaderboards, levels, quests, player interaction, genre differences, community norms.

Background and Problem

• Problem / challenge: Toxic behavior in online multiplayer games is prevalent but understudied in terms of its variation across genres and its association with specific game elements.
• Significance: Toxic behavior negatively impacts player well-being, team performance, and community sustainability, while also increasing moderation burdens on developers.
• Motivation and related work: Prior studies have explored toxicity in specific games or broadly across genres, but lack systematic cross-genre comparisons and quantitative analysis of game elements. This study addresses these gaps by examining how toxic behavior clusters across genres and how game elements influence it.

Solution

• Proposed approach: A mixed-methods study combining quantitative analysis of toxic behavior across seven multiplayer genres with qualitative exploration of player narratives.
• Novelty:
  1. Cross-genre mapping of toxic behavior prevalence.
  2. Statistical associations between toxic behavior and specific game elements (e.g., leaderboards, levels, quests).
  3. Development of four actionable design patterns to mitigate toxicity.
• Procedure and key techniques:
  • Study 1: Quantitative survey (N = 243) using ANCOVA and regression to analyze toxic behavior across genres and its association with 15 game elements.
  • Study 2: Qualitative survey (N = 72) using reflexive thematic analysis to interpret player experiences and contextualize quantitative findings.
  • Integration of findings into design patterns: Voluntary Interdependence, Normalize Respect, Balance Competition, and Shared Goals.

Results

• Concrete findings:
  • Toxic behavior is highest in MOBA, Battle Royale, and Shooter genres; intermediate in Sports; and lowest in MMORPG, Fighting, and Sandbox genres.
  • Leaderboards and levels are positively associated with toxic behavior, while quests are negatively associated.
  • Experience of play is positively associated with toxic behavior, suggesting normalization of hostility over time.
• Advantage over baselines:
  • Provides a cross-genre baseline for toxic behavior prevalence and links it to specific game elements, unlike prior studies that focus on single games or lack systematic comparisons.
• Experiments / evaluation:
  • Quantitative survey with 243 participants across seven genres, using validated scales and statistical controls.
  • Qualitative survey with 72 participants to explore cultural and contextual interpretations of toxic behavior and game elements.
• Limitations and future work:
  • Limited to seven multiplayer genres; findings may not generalize to all games or modes.
  • Cross-sectional design limits causal inference; future work should include longitudinal or experimental studies.
  • Self-reported data on toxicity may benefit from triangulation with behavioral data.

Summary

This study investigates toxic behavior in online multiplayer games across seven genres and its association with game elements like leaderboards, levels, and quests. Quantitative analysis reveals that toxicity is highest in competitive, team-based genres (e.g., MOBA, Battle Royale) and correlates with specific game elements, while qualitative analysis highlights the cultural and contextual factors shaping these dynamics. The findings are synthesized into four actionable design patterns—Voluntary Interdependence, Normalize Respect, Balance Competition, and Shared Goals—to guide developers in fostering healthier multiplayer communities. These insights contribute to understanding toxicity as a culturally negotiated outcome of game design and community norms.