Characterizing disruptions in online gaming behavior following software patches

TL;DR

This study examines how software patches in online multiplayer games influence player behavior, revealing that more severe patches lead to greater behavioral changes, and proposes using patches as tools for behavioral research.

Contribution

It provides a large-scale empirical analysis of behavioral shifts following game patches and introduces the concept of using patches as empirical instruments for studying social behavior.

Findings

Behavioral changes correlate with patch severity

Content analysis of patch notes reveals strategic adaptations

Large dataset of 53 million matches analyzed

Abstract

Multiplayer online games are ideal settings for studying the effects of technological disruptions on social behavior. Software patches to online games cause significant changes to the game's rules and require players to develop new strategies to cope with these disruptions. We surveyed players, analyzed the content of software patch notes, and analyzed changes to the character selection behaviors in more than 53 million matches of Dota 2 in the days before and after software patches over a 30-month period. We found that the severity of patches is correlated with the magnitude of behavioral changes following a patch. We discuss the opportunities of leveraging software patches to online games as a valuable but overlooked empirical instrument for measuring behavioral dynamics.