Chalmers University

Should I Stay or Should I Go?: A Study of Pickup Groups in Left 4 Dead 2

Pickup groups in Left 4 Dead 2 function as unique, transient social arenas where players must navigate intense interdependence without the benefit of prior history or established social markers.

• Positive social interaction, such as humor or politeness, acts as a stabilizer that makes 'rage quitting' and vote-kicking less likely in Pickup Groups (PUGs).
• Players often intentionally avoid voice communication to maintain anonymity, which facilitates the ease of dropping out or initiating a vote-kick against teammates.
• Negative perceptions of a player's out-of-game identity, such as racism or misogyny, do not typically cause an ongoing game session to collapse, whereas positive social rapport can actively save a session from falling apart.