“Gaming Should Be Fun, Not Stressful” — Malaysian Gamers Speak Out Against Cyberbullies

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For many gamers in Malaysia, gaming often means preparing to deal with insults, threats, or worse.

In the world of competitive games, cyberbullying isn't rare — it's normalised.

Gaming is supposed to be fun. It's a break from reality, a quick dopamine hit, or for some, an escape altogether.

We spoke to several Malaysian gamers about what they've seen, experienced, and how they're fighting back.

Turns out, gaming can be a toxic experience.

Toxic behaviour in gaming isn't always obvious. It can start with casual insults, evolve into targeted harassment, or spill out into real-life threats.

Micho Teh, who previously played a lot of Dota 2, said her gender often became the subject of unwanted attention.

"When my in-game teammates found out I was a girl, they either teased me or trash-talked," said Micho, who is a cosplayer.

"But there was one time a stranger mentioned stalking me in the chat, and followed up by messaging me some private details about myself, things he wouldn't have known unless he had dug through my old social media posts," she added.

That incident left Micho shocked and feeling unsafe.

For Billy Chin, a veteran multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) player, toxic gamers are just part of the landscape

"In MOBAs or first-person shooter (FPS) games, cyberbullying still exists, whether you're a good or bad player," he said.

Billy, who was part of Team Aeolus that won the 2019 Sarawak Esports Expo, said there's a reason cyberbullying happens.

"They are usually not even that good at the game. They just cyberbully out of jealousy towards more talented players," he noted.

Ham, a long-time Dungeons & Dragons player and Game Master, sees a different kind of toxicity, one that targets casual players or minorities

"As a gamer myself, I was bullied for not being sufficiently competitive. Some have gotten mad because I hadn't 'studied the game enough'," they said.

In their circles, they've also seen harassment based on race, gender, and sexual orientation.

For many of the players SAYS spoke to, toxic gaming comes down to a few things: anonymity, competitiveness, and a lack of consequences

"Competitive gaming… often brings out the worst out of everyone. It's like driving on Malaysian roads — you don't realise how angry you can get until you're in the driver's seat," Micho said.

Ham adds that toxicity is often tolerated because the community doesn't take a firm enough stance.

"When Game Masters, event managers, and moderators treat their roles professionally, it deters the weirdos. Pandering to the loudest offenders out of fear it'll hurt popularity or profits is just sad to see," they said.

So, what can gamers do about toxic gaming? There's no one-size-fits-all solution, but each gamer SAYS spoke to had their own way of dealing with toxicity.

Billy believes in tuning it out.

"One way to deal with them is to smile or type 'Haha' while ignoring their hateful comments. Train yourself to be immune. It is not easy, but you need to master the skill of ignoring unnecessary stress and mental pressure," he said.

Micho, after being stalked, changed how she played.

"I stopped using voice chat as much. I would even write messages like a guy just to avoid trouble," she shared.

"Mute and report" is her go-to advice.

Ham takes a firmer approach. As a community leader, they actively ban toxic players.

"Do not engage them. Deplatform them, and remove them. We curate the community we want. There are formal bans, and there's community knowledge," they said.

A truly safe gaming space, according to Micho, would simply mean not being targeted for being a woman

"If I am welcomed regardless of my gender in the male-dominated competitive gaming scene and don't get threats or direct harm, I am good," she said.

Ham believes it starts with leadership, noting that "When Game Masters do it as gamers for fellow gamers, the culture shifts."

To them, letting bullies run rampant because they're popular or bring numbers is a betrayal of what gaming should be about.

Billy agrees that muting, ignoring, and enjoying the game is still possible, but gamers need to be proactive about protecting their peace.

"Learn to mute voice or game chat to enjoy a better gaming experience," he said.

Rileks Je, Takyah Toxic is an awareness campaign by MyGameOn and SAYS Tech that champions inclusivity in the gaming community.