Snowdrift game induces pattern formation in systems of self-propelled particles.

Evolutionary games between species are known to lead to intriguing spatiotemporal patterns in systems of diffusing agents. However, the role of interspecies interactions is hardly studied when agents are (self-)propelled, as is the case in many biological systems. Here, we combine aspects from active matter and evolutionary game theory and study a system of two species whose individuals are (self-)propelled and interact through a snowdrift game. We derive hydrodynamic equations for the density and velocity fields of both species from which we identify parameter regimes in which one or both species form macroscopic orientational order as well as regimes of propagating wave patterns. Interestingly, we find simultaneous wave patterns in both species that result from the interplay between alignment and snowdrift interactions-a feedback mechanism that we call game-induced pattern formation. We test these results in agent-based simulations and confirm the different regimes of order and spatiotemporal patterns as well as game-induced pattern formation.