Berlin, 15th December 2021
The games market continues to achieve all-time sales records, while competitive gaming in e-sports continues to inspire millions of people. Yet competitive gaming in particular has its downsides: Toxic behaviour among aggressive gamers* is common and weighs heavily on gaming communities. The GoBIG League, operated by Berlin International Gaming and official partner in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) for the DACH region of the gaming platform FACEIT, has collaborated with online identifier WebID in developing solutions for effective protection against smurfs, cheaters and trolls. A survey conducted among CS:GO gamers now provides insights both into just how afflicted they are by toxic behaviour and into the success of the countermeasures so far.
The Problems Relating to Cheaters, Smurfs and Trolls
Only a little over 10% of those surveyed reported that they had yet to encounter negative experiences while playing an online game. By contrast, almost 90% have either suffered insults, harassment and threats, or else experienced fellow players competing against their own team, playing unfairly or with significantly superior skills. There is a consensus with regard to the consequences: 98% of the players would like to see a consistent sanctioning of unfair players, while the majority are in favour of a ban.
Player Verification in Lieu of Anonymous Accounts
To create a positive gaming atmosphere, the makers of the GoBIG League and WebID devised two solutions: Player Verification and the “WebID No Toxicity Rating”. Those registering for the league first identify themselves in a concise online process via the fully automated identification solution WebID AI Ident. This unique, personal identification effectively prevents the creation of multi-accounts as are required for anonymous toxic behaviour. With the No Toxicity Rating, verified accounts are downgraded in the event of rule violations, which results in disqualification from wins and game in suspensions. Toxic behaviour thus has immediate consequences for the aggressive player.
Follow the Example
This innovative approach has been met with a positive response by the community: 75% of respondents would also like to see the “WebID No Toxicity Rating” introduced into other leagues. Moreover, the approach presents no complicated obstacles, as more than 90% of the CS:GO gamers interviewed regard the identification process as transparent.
In the words of Christian Chmiel, Chief Operating Officer at Berlin International Gaming and Head of the GoBIG League: “We are truly grateful for such a positive response and that the community recognises and appreciates our joint efforts. This shows that WebID’s verification solution is both well-suited to e-sports and well-received by the players as a valuable tool for a more enjoyable gaming atmosphere. We hope this response signals a positive trend among other tournament organisers, e-sports leagues and the online gaming industry as a whole.”
To quote Frank S. Jorga, co-CEO and founder of WebID adds: “We are proud to have partnered with BIG in creating effective measures to counter toxic behaviour and to improve the experience of e-sports gaming. The positive experiences among gamers of CS:GO ought to have an impact on the entire industry, enabling people of all genders and ages to enjoy gaming free of the anxiety associated with cyberbullying. As a partner in the scene, we will play our part in establishing such safety standards by providing our solutions.”
The Importance of Data Security
In addition to the discoveries relating to cyberbullying and the efficacy of countermeasures, the survey also sheds light on fundamental aspects of online processes. For almost 90% of e-sportsmen surveyed, the security of their data is the single most important feature of the identification process: Here, the technology adopted is compelling, with 86% rating data security as very good or good.