"Borderlands 3 Gamers Aid in Mapping Human Gut Bacteria Evolution"

The Borderlands Science minigame embedded in Borderlands 3 has successfully engaged 4.5 million players in tracing the evolutionary relationships of over a million different kinds of bacteria in the human gut, substantially advancing knowledge of the microbiome and improving AI programs. The project, led by McGill University, demonstrated the potential of integrating citizen science into games, with players completing an average of 35 tasks and showing enthusiasm for science. While the gamification approach diluted the scientific contribution per result, it significantly increased player engagement and retention. The data collected will be used to relate specific microbes to diet, aging, and diseases, and researchers are still collecting data provided by gamers.