Design Opportunities for Asynchronous Relationship Maintenance in Games

Playing digital games with loved ones can support relationship maintenance; however, in remote relationships that are separated by both time and space, less is known about how game design can promote social closeness. We take a first step in addressing this gap through a multi-step research process that leverages theories of relationship maintenance to understand asynchronous (i.e., not at the same time) play experiences: First, we investigate how players currently use games to maintain relationships asynchronously (i.e., separated by distance and time) in an interview study (N=8). Second, we analyse the ways in which games intended and recommended for asynchronous interaction (N=42) support relationship maintenance. Results show a lack of meaningful relationship maintenance support in current asynchronous games, with some features providing scaffolding for more substantial engagement (e.g., chat functions in support of genuine conversation) but not prompting players to actually engage in the behaviour. Considering this lack of support, we conducted two ideation sessions with games researchers and game design experts. These sessions resulted in the conceptualization and critical appraisal of a design space for asynchronous relationship maintenance in games, and we highlight the need for a better and more inclusive theoretical understanding of asynchronous relationship maintenance through games.