Riot’s Valorant made headlines this past weekend, and not entirely for reasons Riot would’ve liked, when multiple Riot devs spoke up about harassment they’ve endured from players while playing online games, including while playing and streaming the new title. (Riot has since said it’ll address the problem.)
Reading the Twitter threads where the harassment was described, I found myself nodding along unsurprised whatsoever, which is depressing. I’m surprised only that people are surprised. I’ve seen all that and more directed at me from people online, in games, on Reddit, even in our own comments, everything from sexist slurs about my gaming skills to horrific threats against my family. The general perception, I suspect, is that it’s far more common in competitive environments, but I am willing to bet a lot of MMORPG players have seen more than their fair share over the years.
Have you ever been harassed in an MMO? What is your default move after dealing with people harassing you online?
Every morning, the Massively Overpowered writers team up with mascot Mo to ask MMORPG players pointed questions about the massively multiplayer online roleplaying genre. Grab a mug of your preferred beverage and take a stab at answering the question posed in today’s Daily Grind!
