The State of Safety in Gaming 2025: Time to Level Up

With over 2.5 billion online gamers worldwide, the gaming industry is growing faster and faster. But as gaming expands, so does the need for safe and enjoyable experiences for all players.

Unfortunately, online gaming can come with risks like cyberbullying, harassment, and disruptive behavior, which can harm mental health and drive players away. In more extreme cases, harmful behavior can even involve child exploitation or violent extremism, which can have serious real-world consequences.

Without safe and secure spaces to play, players are vulnerable to these dangers—which is why the gaming industry needs to press start on prioritizing safety. Besides, it benefits everyone. For players, a safe gaming environment promotes inclusivity, respect, and fair play, making the community more welcoming for everyone. For gaming companies, it protects their reputations and supports long-term success. It’s a win-win.

Our latest report, The State of Online Gaming in 2025, provides a deep dive into the reasons to level up safety measures in gaming. It covers the early days of multiplayer gaming with basic moderation tools to today’s more complex AI-driven systems and how the industry is currently tackling emerging threats like those mentioned above. It also looks ahead to the challenges moderation teams will face in the coming year.
The report serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding how the gaming industry is adapting to new threats and outlines the safety trends that will shape the year ahead.

Here are some highlights:

The Evolution of Safety in Gaming

Just as games have evolved from text-based MUDs to expansive MMORPGs, safety measures have advanced from basic reporting tools to AI-powered moderation systems and real-time in-game monitoring. As gaming grows further, these systems must adapt to protect players from emerging threats like AI-driven cheating and exploitation. These threats are becoming more complex and have far-reaching consequences for players, developers, and platform owners, who must address them quickly and accurately.

One way the gaming industry is addressing these challenges is by focusing on prosocial gaming, where good behavior is rewarded. By recognizing and encouraging positive actions—like helping other players or reporting harmful behavior—developers can cultivate a more respectful, inclusive community. As AI and machine learning improve, these technologies can help create safer, more enjoyable gaming environments by swiftly spotting harmful actions and reinforcing positive behavior.

The Challenges in Online Gaming Moderation

Research shows that 76% of gamers have experienced harassment, including gender-based, racial, and sexual harassment. That’s a huge cohort of players, which is why it’s crucial to set clear boundaries and rules to ensure a safe environment. If harassment is allowed, it ruins the experience for players and can discourage others from playing, creating an unruly atmosphere that can harm the entire community and the game’s success.

But with millions of players interacting at once, keeping track of every conversation, action, and behavior is a monumental challenge. Moderation teams must distinguish between acceptable behavior and harmful actions while also making sure the game stays fun for everyone—including the rowdy players who are simply exchanging playful, R-rated banter. Finding the balance between what’s acceptable and unacceptable can be incredibly complex, especially as the gaming community continues to grow and diversify.

Looking Forward to 2025

Looking ahead to 2025, gaming safety is set to become both exciting and more challenging. The report sheds light on trends like using AI for better real-time moderation, improved tools to detect harmful behavior, and new strategies for managing player conduct. As the industry adapts, the challenge will be balancing player protection with maintaining a fun, engaging experience. Striking this balance will be the key to success.

Developers and gaming professionals can use The State of Online Gaming in 2025 to help create safer, more welcoming spaces that encourage long-term community growth. With the right tools and strategies, developers can shape a more positive gaming environment that benefits everyone—players, developers, and the community as a whole.