New study confirms what most gamers already knew: ‘Post-game depression’ is a real thing

There’s nothing quite like digging into a new game and immersing yourself in a world for hours every day, for days or weeks at a time.

Being able to lose yourself in a good story, or a massive open world, or an RPG that lasts for upwards of 100 hours is the kind of stuff that keeps gamers going and gaming despite the world around them. And as most of us hardcore players already know, it sometimes comes with a cost: when that game is finally done.

Watching the credits roll on a game is a bittersweet thing, but a new study by SWPS University in Poland has confirmed that “post-game depression,” or P-GD, is real, described as “a feeling of emptiness after completing an exceptionally immersive and emotionally charged game.” I’ve felt this feeling many times before, so having some science backing it feels validating.

“P-GD is a specific type of grief after loss, reminiscent of parting with a loved one or the end of an important life stage,” psychologist Kamil Janowicz, author of the study, said. “Our research shows that for many gamers, the virtual world becomes such a significant source of emotions that returning to everyday life requires time and appropriate psychological tools. These results may help us better understand gamer experiences, and they could be useful in the game design process.”

Fans of lengthy RPGs where you become more and more invested in characters could feel the sadness even more, according to the study. And this checks out with one of my worst and most recent bouts with P-GD, after I finished Final Fantasy VII Rebirth after around 90 hours of play time.

“Our research shows that gamers playing role-playing games (RPGs) are most susceptible to post-game depression,” the study said. “It is in these games that players have the greatest influence on character development through their decisions, and build the strongest bonds with their characters. And the more engaging the game world and the closer the relationship with the character, the more difficult it is to return to reality once the game is over.”

Dr. Janowicz noted some concern about gamers, saying the study’s results “raise a number of questions about the ethical aspects of game development, and taking into account the potential impact of gameplay on player well-being in this process.”

P-GD happened for me again with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach last year, and again this year once I finally rolled credits on Resident Evil Requiem. As fans of the medium, we wish these games, or at least the first time experiencing them, could last forever. Playing them for an extended period of time and always having that time to look forward to in life is part of what makes them so special. And when they end, the feeling of joy that comes with the games sometimes ends too.

What’s your worst P-GD episode? Or do you not believe in it? Let us know in the comments.

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The first team for the Road to the Final promo is coming soon to FC 26, and it’s likely going to feature some amazing items. So far, EA Sports has remained tight-lipped about which cards will be part of the promo. However, the first leak has already started to appear, and we also have information about the release date and time.

All FC 26 Road to the Final Team 1 players

So far, the leaks have been few in number. We are still a few days away from the start of the promo, and one player has already been confirmed.

• Kylian Mbappe

While we are awaiting more leaks, it’s pretty easy to guess what trend EA Sports will follow. The RTTF promo will feature cards of footballers who have qualified for the advanced knockout stages in Europe’s club competitions. This includes four different tournaments.

• UEFA Champions
• UEFA Europa League
• UEFA Conference League
• UEFA Women’s Champions League

This has been the pattern that EA Sports has been following for the promo. Moreover, all items will be dynamic and eligible for upgrades based on how their respective footballers and clubs perform in real life.

FC 26 Road to the Final Team 1 release countdown

Based on rumors, Road to the Final Team 1 cards are coming to Ultimate Team on Friday, March 27. They will replace the Answer the Call promo cards that are currently available in Ultimate Team. The following countdown will expire once the promo goes live.

[hurrytimer id=”1196080″]

The countdown is based on the following timings.

• 10am PT
• 12pm CT
• 1pm ET
• 6pm UTC
• 7pm CET

This is the usual schedule that EA Sports follows for all promos. It will be interesting to find out more about the upcoming leaks and which cards eventually make it to the official launch.

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