POLA KOMUNIKASI KELOMPOK PEMAIN PUBG MOBILE DALAM MEMENANGKAN PERTANDINGAN (Studi Kasus di Esport Indonesia Daerah Kabupaten Madiun)

This study examines the group communication patterns of PUBG Mobile players in supporting team success at ESI Madiun Regency, addressing issues of weak chemistry and coordination stemming from age differences among players. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed using a case study method involving in-depth interviews with four informants representing the roles of In-Game Leader (IGL), Rusher, Second Rusher, and Support; the data were analyzed using Robert F. Bales' Interaction Process Analysis theory. The results indicate that team communication patterns are structured around clear role divisions; the IGL dominates tactical communication as a task leader through a two-way, collaborative process, while socioemotional functions are distributed organically among all members to maintain team cohesion and motivation. Voice chat serves as the primary channel, meeting the need for speed and depth of information in real-time, complemented by non-verbal tools such as Quick Chat and Tactical Map Markers. The most fundamental finding is that chemistry and interpersonal closeness built outside the match arena particularly through pre-tournament bootcamp programs are the primary determinants of in-game communication quality. Unresolved challenges include the low frequency of official competitions and the lack of a dedicated "game house" as a permanent training center; consequently, the quality of team communication remains heavily dependent on the intensity of periodic joint training sessions.