Borderlands 3 Players Have Had a Major Impact on Scientific Research

gamerant.com:

A recent study has underscored a groundbreaking achievement, showing that 4.5 million gamers worldwide have significantly advanced microbial evolutionary research by playing a minigame within Borderlands 3. In a collaborative effort between academic researchers, a gaming development company, and Borderlands 3 players, the tremendous potential of gaming and scientific endeavors has been demonstrated.

Borderlands 3 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games, marking the fourth main entry in the Borderlands series. Players engage in battles against diverse enemies, undertake quests, and scavenge for weapons and gear. The game distinguishes itself with a distinctive cel-shaded art style, playful humor, and cooperative multiplayer functionality that accommodates up to four players, both online and locally. Beyond its entertainment value, Borderlands 3 has recently contributed significantly to advancing medical studies.

The study was published in Nature Biotechnology and led by researchers from McGill University. It aimed to explore the feasibility and impact of engaging gamers in scientific research through a minigame called Borderlands Science. The minigame, embedded within Borderlands 3, challenges players to solve puzzles that contribute to mapping the human gut microbiome. By aligning colored blocks in the game, players generate crucial data for understanding microbial communities' functions within the human body. The study will “substantially advance our knowledge of the microbiome and improve on the AI programs that will be used to carry out this work in the future,” said McGill in a press release.

The study is a collaboration between McGill University researchers, Gearbox Entertainment Company, Massively Multiplayer Online Science, and the Microsetta Initiative. Jérôme Waldispühl, an associate professor at McGill, and a key figure in the study, expressed surprise and excitement at the results obtained through