Don't Break My Flow: Effects of Switching Latency in Shooting Video Games

Fluctuations in network latency, known as switching latency, represent a critical disruption to player performance and psychological engagement in competitive shooting games. Research involving 264 participants across an eight-minute, browser-based gaming environment reveals that the consistency of input-output timing is more vital to the user experience than the achievement of absolute low-latency benchmarks. When latency levels shift frequently during a session, players are unable to adapt to the game’s mechanics, leading to a measurable decline in accuracy, scoring, and the immersive state of flow.

The study utilized eleven experimental conditions to isolate the effects of varying start latencies and switch frequencies, ranging from zero to twelve occurrences per session. Data indicates that while infrequent or minor fluctuations may be tolerable, high-frequency switching significantly diminishes reported levels of tension and challenge. Furthermore, the initial latency conditions of a session exert a disproportionate influence on the overall player experience, suggesting that the brain’s ability to calibrate to a specific input paradigm is hindered by unpredictable environmental changes.

These findings suggest that game developers should prioritize the maintenance of stable, predictable latency over the pursuit of minimal delay. By artificially introducing minor, constant delays to ensure uniformity, developers can prevent the cognitive dissonance caused by fluctuating performance. Ultimately, ensuring a consistent technical environment is essential for maintaining player engagement and precision, as the disruption of the flow state caused by inconsistent latency is a primary driver of negative subjective experiences in modern interactive entertainment.