Good Game Playbook: Toxicity, Tilt and Coping in Online Gaming

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
For every six adult players, five have experienced harassment in online games.See it on page 4
02
The document reports that 71% of adult players have experienced abuse, including physical threats, stalking and harassment.See it on page 4
03
Toxicity is linked to players quitting: 28% of young players are reported as quitting video games.See it on page 4
04
The document states that 47% of players more closely manage who they play with in online communities as a result of toxicity.See it on page 4
05
Tilt queueing is defined as continuing to play matches out of frustration at underperforming in a previous one, creating a cycle of underperforming and tilting. Taking a break when tilted is presented as the way to avoid it.See it on page 8
06
The playbook advises that other players' behaviour is not a reflection of who you are. It suggests players can change how they react to toxicity even when they cannot change the behaviour itself.See it on page 9

Summary

This Ubisoft playbook, made in collaboration with Safe In Our World, is a guide to managing in-game toxicity. It covers how to recognise toxic behaviour, avoid spreading it, and protect personal wellbeing in online games. Topics include tilt, warning signs of stress, anger management, self-awareness, resilience and self-care. The document does not describe a research method or sample.

The playbook reports that for every six adult players, five have experienced harassment in online games. It also cites 71% of adult players having experienced abuse, including physical threats, stalking and harassment, and 28% of young players quitting video games. Its figures on the impact of toxicity are that 47% of players more closely manage who they play with in online communities, and 10% of young players show a decline in school performance.

On tilt, the document defines tilt queueing as continuing to play matches out of frustration at underperforming in a previous one. It advises taking a break when tilted and suggests that even a five-minute walk away from the game can help players reset. It also stresses that building resilience means adapting to challenging situations, not avoiding distress, and that other players' behaviour does not reflect who a person is. Resources include the Fair Play Program's quiz and a list of global helplines.