Suicide Livestreams in NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD

Julián Gutiérrez Carrera; Joleen Blom

doi:10.26503/dl.v2025i3.2616

Abstract

In this extended abstract, we argue that the ludic representations of suicide livestreams in the Japanese story-based videogame NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD encode various social and cultural understandings of suicide, mental illness, livestreams, and online cultures. We aim to uncover these understandings through close readings analysing the gameplay leading up to two endings depicting suicide livestreams in the game. By contextualising the game within mental health in Japan, we argue that the game frames mental illness as an issue that can be numerically managed, and that the issue is the result of personal shortcomings, rather than societal problems.

Original language	English
Number of pages	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.26503/dl.v2025i3.2616
Publication status	Published - 16 Jun 2025
Publication type	Not Eligible
Event	DiGRA - Valletta, Malta Duration: 30 Jun 2025 → 4 Jul 2025

Conference

Conference	DiGRA
Country/Territory	Malta
City	Valletta
Period	30/06/25 → 4/07/25

Funding

This research was supported by the Academy of Finland project Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies (CoE-GameCult, 353266) and by a research grant from the Kone Foundation (202405656).

Funders	Funder number
Academy of Finland Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies	353266
Kone Foundation/Koneen Säätiö	202405656

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Hikikomori
Japan
livestreams
menhera
mental health
NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD
suicide

Access to Document

10.26503/dl.v2025i3.2616

Cite this

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abstract = "In this extended abstract, we argue that the ludic representations of suicide livestreams in the Japanese story-based videogame NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD encode various social and cultural understandings of suicide, mental illness, livestreams, and online cultures. We aim to uncover these understandings through close readings analysing the gameplay leading up to two endings depicting suicide livestreams in the game. By contextualising the game within mental health in Japan, we argue that the game frames mental illness as an issue that can be numerically managed, and that the issue is the result of personal shortcomings, rather than societal problems.",

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KW - Hikikomori

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