Conceptualization of the Video Game Phenomenon in the Context of Neoinstitutionalism

This article presents a sociological analysis of video games from the perspective of neoinstitutional theory. It examines the evolution of video games from simple entertainment to a complex social institution regulated by both formal (program code, developer rules, sanction systems) and informal (community norms, ethical codes, cultural practices) institutions. Based on the work of key representatives of neoinstitutionalism, the mechanisms of formation and reproduction of institutional structures in gaming environments, including the processes of isomorphism, legitimization and structuration, are investigated. In addition, the influence of the institute of video games on broader social spheres is considered: politics (political socialization, government regulation), law (development of legislation in the field of IP, data protection), culture (formation of “third places” according to R. Oldenburg, influence on religious and ideological beliefs), as well as socialization processes. In conclusion, the factors of institutional changes in video games themselves are discussed under the influence of technological innovations, ideological shifts and social transformations, emphasizing the dynamic nature of video games as a social institution.