We have a Geneva Convention, and international norms against nuclear weapons, which are also pretty good deterrents themselves (we hope).
Just like nuclear powers sometimes wage limited conventional wars, it's possible to imagine a set of international laws and norms where disputes would be resolved by virtual conflicts without escalation to armed force.
Advances in robotic war machines could make them so fearsome they deterred real-world armed conflict in favor of virtual conflict. (Of course, that's what they said about the machine gun before WW1)
The Geneva Convention only works if both sides abide by it. Such deterrents only work because we allow them to work. Once one side decides the consequences of going against the norm is acceptable, or can be avoided altogether, then the rules no longer apply.
Just like nuclear powers sometimes wage limited conventional wars, it's possible to imagine a set of international laws and norms where disputes would be resolved by virtual conflicts without escalation to armed force.
Advances in robotic war machines could make them so fearsome they deterred real-world armed conflict in favor of virtual conflict. (Of course, that's what they said about the machine gun before WW1)