Predictability in Competitive Video Games: Effects of Strategic Equilibrium on Player Agency

Abstract

This paper examines the instances of Nash Equilibrium in competitive video games focusing on its impact on player strategies and game dynamics within the context of League of Legends. By determining how Nash Equilibrium contributes to a phase of predictability that can both stabilize and stagnate the flow of the game through analysis of gameplay patterns and strategic choices, formulaic strategies between individual player agency and team objectives are revealed to negatively impact player engagement and spectator experience. Our findings prove that Nash Equilibrium has significant concern for game design, requiring adjustments that improve strategic diversity without endangering the competitive integrity of the game. With the study's insight into the relationship between player behavior and game mechanics, we aim to offer a valuable addition to the growing field of game theory in esports.