Even though gaming has now become mainstream, I mostly encounter younger people in multiplayer games. On the one hand, this is hardly surprising; on the other, it really shows me my age.

I first noticed this when I joined a guild in Albion Online. Based on the description and an initial chat, I was quite sold on the guild. But that changed quickly the first time I joined the voice chat on their Discord server.

What can I say? I couldn’t stand it for even ten minutes. One of the people there had just been defeated in a fight, which he loudly announced to everyone. Very loudly and very emotionally, accompanied by exclamations like “Dude,” “Bro,” “totally OP,” and so on. By my estimation, the speaker was 18 at most, probably younger. Unfortunately, his fervor wasn’t contagious, just annoying. Ten minutes of emotional and loud outbursts on a continuous loop. The Nyan Cat is pure relaxation in comparison.

Maybe I just caught them at a bad time or was particularly sensitive. So, a few evenings later, I joined the channel again. It was immediately the same picture, or rather, the same sound. Several players were loudly posturing, not letting others speak, and shouting over each other. But each one was focused on their own activity. I left the voice chat again and decided this guild wasn’t for me. After checking out the alternatives, I found a similar scene, with some players as young as 14. Sure, not everyone is like that, but the risk is quite high.

That’s when my content creator heart started beating again. I am now the leader and, so far, the only member of a cozy after-work guild for adults aged 25 and up. If you’re interested in Albion Online, feel free to check out the game (even better, use my referral link) and get in touch with me. Do you already play Albion Online?