PickFu and AI-based Utopia Analytics finds that mobile RPG games have the most toxic players. In a genre that is often dominated by online shooters and MOBAs, mobile games taking the top spot in terms of toxicity is quite unexpected.
Toxicity in gaming is not a new issue but rather a growing one for online games. Big companies like Riot have even gone as far as removing chat from League of Legends to attempt to stop the toxic culture surrounding online games. Other online games like World of Warcraft are even going as far as removing inappropriate content following the lawsuit against Activision Blizzard for an abusive and toxic work environment.
A report from PickFu and Utopia Analytics found that 70% of online gamers have experienced or witnessed toxic behavior or abuse from other players. Almost half (49%) of players reported that the harassment or abuse was centered around any form of identity. Of the 49% of players, 18% confirmed that they experienced saying inappropriate comments concerning their gender, 16% experienced harassment due to their ethnicity, and 15% reported experiencing harassment because of their sexual orientation. Out of the 489 women who took part in the data analysis, one in almost every three women reported experiencing misogynistic abuse. However, their male or non-binary counterparts never reported any abuse or harassment in relation to gender.
For mobile games, RPGs were reported to have the most toxic communities. Over 400 online gamers reported playing on Andriod or iOS and over 50% of the gamers had experienced or witnessed inappropriate behavior in RPG mobile games. Even though puzzle, strategy, adventure, action, and word games all surpassed RPGs in terms of the number of players, RPGs were still known to have the most toxic interactions. From the data gathered in the report, it seems that any games that require more social interaction, unfortunately, open more opportunities for harassment and abusive behavior.
It's no mystery that online harassment can seriously affect one's mental health, and with the pandemic still underway, more people have turned to online gaming as a source of social interaction. Most people would believe that FPS video games like Call of Duty or Valorant would contain some of the most toxic communities. However, it could be games like Genshin Impact, one of the most successful mobile RPGs ever, that contribute to this toxic culture. Hopefully, gaming companies will continue to find ways to fight online toxicity and create healthy communities.