This study explores how gaming culture, facilitated by ICT, shapes English usage among Kazakhstani youth. An online survey of 35 regular gamers (ages 18–24) and one focus group examined the frequency of gaming abbreviations, their migration into non-gaming contexts, and users’ awareness of register shifts. Daily use of shorthand was reported by 70 % of respondents; 40 % noted simpler sentence structures, and 35 % described vocabulary expansion through terms like “GG,” “AFK,” and “LOL.” Over half admitted to inadvertently using such abbreviations in formal writing. Focus group discussions highlighted the roles of gaming chat in accelerating practical English acquisition, the tension between efficiency and formality, the formation of community identity, and difficulties reverting to full-form English in academic contexts. Future research should track writing proficiency longitudinally and test interventions to strengthen register-switching skills. Keywords—ICT-mediated communication; gaming abbreviations; English language change; digital literacy.