A longtime fan of the popular Chinese game Three Kingdoms Kill Online has taken legal action after claiming he was subjected to repeated virtual humiliation that left him depressed. The gamer, identified as Qiaoben, alleges he was slapped 4,800 times, pelted with eggs, and hit with straw sandals during gameplay — actions he says harmed his mental health.
Qiaoben, who has played the game for 15 years, told a local news outlet, “Every time I am hit with eggs, I feel my self-esteem is harmed and I get depressed.” According to him, opponents frequently used in-game items like virtual eggs and slaps to troll and mock him after defeats. These items, purchasable within the game, were reportedly used to vent frustrations.
He has now filed a lawsuit against the game’s developer, accusing the company of “tolerating” and even profiting from the harassment. Qiaoben claims the gaming platform encouraged this kind of user behavior because it benefits financially from item sales. “Every time I am hit… I feel my self-esteem is harmed,” he repeated in his statement.
Developed in 2009 by a Hangzhou-based studio, Three Kingdoms Kill Online is a multiplayer battle game set during China’s Three Kingdoms era. It supports four to eight players per match, each lasting between 10 to 30 minutes. The browser-based game has remained popular partly because it requires no installation, making it accessible anytime.
While the company has yet to respond publicly to the lawsuit, Qiaoben’s story has stirred debate online about digital harassment and its psychological impact — even in virtual environments.
