ragequit

Ragequit is the act of abruptly leaving a game or online session out of anger or frustration. It usually means quitting a multiplayer game immediately after a loss or perceived injustice, sometimes accompanied by hostile messages or an outburst.

The term is a portmanteau of rage and quit, dating from online gaming communities in the late 20th century. While most common in video games, the concept is also used to describe abrupt exits from other online services and environments.

Causes include perceived unfairness, toxic behavior by others, poor match quality, or frustrating game design; technical issues such as latency can also contribute. Triggers are often cumulative, and the impulse to quit can be stronger in highly competitive settings.

Consequences include disruption to teammates, potential penalties in some games (such as leaver or matchmaking penalties), and damage to the quitter’s reputation. Some communities view rage quitting as irresponsible conduct, while others see it as a natural reaction to a flawed system.

Mitigation and response strategies include improved matchmaking and anti-toxicity measures, clear penalties to deter quitting, and features that allow players to disengage without lashing out.