Social and Organizational Dynamics in Multiplayer Gaming: A Comparative Communication Analysis of Casual and Esports Players’ Interactions in “ Call of Duty: Warzone ”

Multiplayer video games are rich settings for observing complex social and organizational dynamics such as communication, socioemotional exchange, and coordination, yet comparative evidence across player profiles and contexts remains limited. This study aims to quantify and compare in-game communicative functions in Call of Duty: Warzone across player profiles (casual vs. esports) and, within esports, across different contexts (streaming vs. tournament). We conducted a quantitative content analysis of 5,915 utterances from 38 players across 29 gaming sessions. The study results indicate distinct communication styles: Casual players prioritize social interaction and emotional expression, whereas esports players emphasize strategic discourse. In addition, esports players in streaming contexts exhibit greater emotional engagement compared to tournament settings. These results, showing that gaming communication is highly context-sensitive, highlight the psychological impact of competitive play, advancing the understanding of gaming communication dynamics and player behaviors.