Effects of Toxicity in Competitive Online Video Games

This article is a research report that estimates variations in the effects of toxicity in competitive online video games based on the source of toxicity and match outcomes. It analyzes proprietary data from the first-person action video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, focusing on how exposure to toxicity influences player engagement and behavior. The study employs an instrumental variable estimation strategy to address causal identification issues. Findings indicate that toxicity has statistically significant effects on short-term player engagement and the likelihood of players using toxic language. The research highlights that these effects differ depending on whether toxicity originates from teammates or opponents, and whether it comes from the same party or a different one. Additionally, the match outcome plays a role in these dynamics. The implications of these findings are significant for resource allocation in combating toxicity within the gaming community, suggesting targeted interventions in contexts where the negative effects are most pronounced.