Player Behavior
Ongoing coverage on Player Behavior.
Latest coverage
Forza Horizon 6 Has Its Own Boogeyman, and Players are Terrified
A myth surrounding a Forza Horizon 6 Drivatar named bowie knife99 is causing fear among players. This in-game legend has become a topic of discussion and concern within the community.
ARC Raiders Can Now Distinguish Between Self Defense and Starting Fights for Matchmaking
Embark Studios has detailed ARC Raiders' playstyle-based matchmaking system, which distinguishes between players focused on cooperative play and those preferring PvP encounters. The system now better differentiates between self-defense and initiating fights, ensuring cautious players are not unfairly categorized as PvP-focused. Updates also ensure that low-activity rounds have less impact on a player's matchmaking profile.
Embark busts 9 myths about Arc Raiders' aggression-based matchmaking, and says defending yourself is no longer a…
Embark has addressed common misconceptions about Arc Raiders' aggression-based matchmaking system, clarifying that it operates on a continuous scale rather than distinct friendly or aggressive lobbies. The developer emphasized that defending oneself is now treated differently from initiating combat, and that individual actions have less weight than overall playstyle patterns.
"Defending yourself is no longer treated the same as starting a fight": Arc Raiders devs update matchmaking, explain how it really works, and shoot down player theories
Embark Studios has updated Arc Raiders' matchmaking system, aiming to better group players with similar playstyles while maintaining unpredictability. The developer clarified that individual actions or loadouts do not immediately alter matchmaking, and debunked several player theories about how the system works. These changes are live now, with further tuning planned based on player feedback.
Subnautica 2 Players Are Discovering Ways to Defend Themselves From Predatory Fish
Players of Subnautica 2 are actively seeking and sharing methods to defend themselves against predatory fish, as developer Unknown Worlds internally discusses the game's controversial combat mechanics. This player-driven initiative highlights a community response to the in-game challenges.
Google just bought a stake in the maker of Eve Online to train its AI models
Google has acquired a stake in CCP Games, the developer of the space-based RPG Eve Online. This investment will allow Google's DeepMind AI research division to study player behavior within the game to train its artificial intelligence models.
GTA 6 fans are already planning their first Vice City sins
Grand Theft Auto VI fans are already discussing their plans for their first in-game activities upon release, ranging from visiting strip clubs to testing physics. Some players are also considering exploring the open world or speed-running the campaign. The article highlights the diverse and often humorous intentions players have for their initial experiences in Vice City.
The Daily Grind: Have you ever lied about yourself in MMORPGs?
This article discusses the prevalence of players lying about their identities in MMORPGs, drawing on personal anecdotes from the early days of the genre to the present. The author expresses a desire for more genuine interactions, citing EVE Online as an example where such deception diminished the experience.
The 'Playable Demo Comeback': Why More Studios Are Returning to Pre-Launch Demos in 2026
Playable game demos are making a comeback in 2026 as a core marketing strategy for both indie and AAA studios, a trend that declined with the shift to digital distribution and increased development costs. Demos are now frequently released during promotional events and are being embraced by platforms like Steam and PlayStation Plus. This resurgence is driven by player skepticism in a crowded market and the valuable data studios gain from demo usage, helping to identify bugs, refine user experience, and drive organic reach.
Marathon's key templates encourage cowardice
Bungie's implementation of key templates in Marathon is criticized for encouraging passive and stagnant gameplay. The article suggests that the current design choices lead to less engaging player experiences.
Arc Raiders' players have created a bounty system that's meant to punish unsportsmanlike behaviour but surprise, surprise, top of the list sits streamer TheBurntPeanut
Players of the extraction shooter Arc Raiders have developed a community-driven bounty system called Speranza Bounties to track and punish unsportsmanlike conduct like backstabbing at extraction. While some players welcome the system for shaming bad behavior, others argue it's a waste of time and could lead to witch hunts, especially as the top-ranked player is a streamer despite having been eliminated.
"The most fun I've had in the last week playing" - Marathon players react to the mid-season update, and its new friendly-first features
Marathon has received a mid-season update introducing the C.A.R.R.I feature, which rewards players for assisting others with contracts and extracting together. While some players have embraced the new friendly mechanics, finding it to be the most fun they've had recently, others report that the core playerbase remains largely unchanged, with some even exploiting the system. The update also includes balance changes and a new experimental game mode.
Marathon Patch 1.0.6 Update Pushes Players to Be Nice and Brings Big Gameplay Changes – Everything You Need to Know
The mid-season update for Marathon, version 1.0.6, introduces significant gameplay changes and meta-level adjustments. These include new rewards for positive player behavior, additional gear for extraction, and revamps to the game's Shells system.
Epic Games Store Users Only Grab Free Games Then Return to Steam
Former Epic Games employees have revealed that many users primarily engage with the Epic Games Store to claim free titles before returning to Steam for regular gaming. Despite Epic's large monthly active user base, Steam maintains significantly higher concurrent player numbers, indicating a stronger user habit and community integration. This pattern suggests that while free games attract users, they do not foster the same level of sustained engagement or loyalty as established platforms like Steam, which has become deeply integrated into PC gaming culture.
'I Am a Victim of My Own Success' – Invincible VS Fans Call for Rage Quitting to Be Penalized as Beta Comes to an End
As the beta test for Invincible VS concludes, players are urging Skybound and Quarter Up to address the issue of "rage quitting." The community hopes for measures to penalize players who leave matches prematurely.
Dune: Awakening Refocusing on PvE
Funcom is refocusing Dune: Awakening, the survival RPG set on Arrakis, on its Player vs. Environment (PvE) elements. This decision comes after analyzing player data and survey results, indicating a shift in development priorities for the game.
One Deranged Pokémon Pokopia Player Has Slurped Up the Entire Ocean
A player in Pokémon Pokopia has caused widespread destruction by absorbing the entire ocean, leading to the obliteration of land in the Bleak Beach area. This extreme player action is depicted as a significant in-game event.
Embark devs playtested Arc Raiders too viciously, so they found a system that let them be Care Bears one day and aggressive the next
Embark Studios production director Caio Braga revealed that the development team for Arc Raiders played the game very aggressively during internal playtests. To better understand diverse player experiences, Braga implemented a randomizer to dictate his playstyle daily, switching between aggressive, friendly, or quest-focused approaches. This method aimed to ensure the team considered a wider range of player behaviors for the live service shooter.
Arc Raiders devs now force themselves to act nice in playtests to better understand friendly players: "One day I'm playing as a Care Bear, the other day I'm very aggressive"
Developers at Embark Studios are adopting a 'Care Bear' mindset during playtests for Arc Raiders to better understand friendly player behavior. Production director Caio Braga revealed that some developers use a randomizer to switch between aggressive and friendly playstyles to ensure balanced testing.
Overwatch reveals that only 32% of players stayed loyal to Winston until the end: 'You are not to be trusted'
The Overwatch Conquest event revealed that only 32% of players remained loyal to Winston and Team Overwatch throughout the season, with 30% siding with Talon and 38% acting as 'sneaky mercenaries' who switched allegiances. This event saw over 250 million challenges completed across approximately nine weeks.
