Abstract
Massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) are becoming more and more significant places for people to work together online. Researchers still do not know much about how individual traits affect how teams work together in games. Studies on players and game playability are still in the early stages. This study performed a quantitative analysis of data from 1,038 Chinese online players to investigate the interrelations between emotional intelligence (EI), transformational leadership (TL), team effectiveness (TE), and playability (PB). Drawing on the Input–Process–Output (IPO) model, social identity theory, and user experience theory, the research focused on how individual characteristics shape team outcomes and player experiences. The findings of this study indicate that both EI and TL have a positive impact on TE, which acts as a key mediating variable influencing the impact of both on PB. The findings also show that EI has a stronger link to PB than TL does. Notably, EI demonstrates a stronger association with PB than TL, highlighting its crucial role in enhancing team coordination and overall game enjoyment. This research augments current theories on virtual team collaboration and offers pragmatic guidance for game developers to improve player engagement and team coordination in online settings.