Exhausting Games : How open-world video games contribute to our stressed lives

Abstract

This thesis is an autoethnographic account of playing open-world games and what can make them stressful in relation to one’s life. The data comes from fieldnotes from the author, observations of others, including several prominent German YouTubers, and material from three semi-structured interviews. The thesis draws on theories from a variety of fields. It takes from game studies its concern with the relationship between games and work and from psychology and philosophy its view on freedom and achievement in neoliberal society. Games and work become inextricable from each other in every aspect of our lives. At the same time, our lives are being transformed by the amount of choice and freedom we seemingly have. An expectation is put on us that we use that freedom responsibly and to improve ourselves constantly.

Across the data collected, five topics came up quite often: social pressures, grinding, loot, time limits, and the map. These were then analyzed through the traits of taking up time in someone’s life, repetition, compulsions, and maximization. The thesis argues that open-world games tend to be on the more exhausting ends of these traits because they enable seemingly endless play. Additionally, players are subjectivized in our society and in games to always strive for more. Open world games are a reflection of neoliberal society as they are especially productive media while the neoliberal subject is compulsively seeking freedom and fun in them. Ultimately, the player becomes exhausted because they can never achieve their goals, but are always trying to maximize their decisions.