Sony’s Shuhei Yoshida thinks that people are beginning to overcome the dreaded VR simulation sickness.
Yoshida said as much speaking to Famitsu at TGS last week (roughly translated via Google). Simulation sickness refers to people becoming nauseous in VR. This can be especially apparent when a VR game simulates walking or if it takes control of the camera. However Yoshida noted that he believes “users have become accustomed to VR” in the past three years.
In his interview, Yoshida pointed to experiences like Borderlands 2 VR and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR as examples of this. Both games offer comfortable teleport options but also smooth locomotion. This is “because the human brain is getting used to it,” he said, later adding that “as the brain gets used to VR, sensory disagreements are less likely to occur.”
Another example Yoshida pointed to is the upcoming Iron Man VR. The game, developed by Camouflaj, lets players fly in any direction using a unique control scheme. Indeed, we’ve been really impressed with how natural the experience feels on the headset. “I think this is a VR game that has never existed before,” Yoshida said.
Yoshida’s words are reflective of how VR design has evolved at both Sony’s own Worldwide Studios and Oculus’ exclusive games for its Rift and Quest headsets. Back in 2016, both companies were cautious to move players too much (with some exception *cough* RIGS *cough*). However, recent titles like Blood & Truth and the upcoming Stormland feature smooth locomotion.
Do you agree that the wider VR user-base is getting used to VR and overcoming simulation sickness? Should Sony and Oculus continue to design more intense experiences or are they leaving people that still suffer from nausea behind? Let us know in the comments below!
