Interlopers or Catalysts? Dissecting the Impact of Incorporating AI Players on Multiplayer Online Games

The rapid evolution and extensive application of artificial intelligence (AI) have generated a distinct form of human-AI interaction in multiplayer online games. Using a policy in a popular online game that incorporates AI players as opponents to human players, we investigate how this policy influences player engagement, friend team-ups, and the broader game ecosystem. Our findings indicate that introducing AI players significantly increases game engagement and encourages friend team-ups. To uncover the underlying mechanism, we perform a mediation analysis to examine the roles of self-efficacy and team responsibility. AI players are intentionally designed to be less skilled while being difficult to distinguish from human players. Our mediation analysis suggests that this design can allow successful outcomes to be interpreted as signals of players’ own competence and team contribution. These interpretations imply stronger perceived self-efficacy and team responsibility, which can lead to greater engagement and more team-ups with friends. Finally, our analysis indicates that the impacts of AI players are moderated by player skill levels and teammate preferences. In particular, the positive effects of AI players on both player engagement and friend team-ups are stronger among novices. Players who initially prefer random teammates experience greater social benefits, as they become more likely to team up with friends after the introduction of AI players. Our research offers valuable implications for game developers who seek to enhance player engagement and foster social interaction in the rapidly evolving landscape of multiplayer online games.