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What Is a Virtual Reality Game? Definition and How It Differs from AR

A virtual reality game is played in a digitally generated environment experienced and interacted with through VR hardware. Here’s how VR differs from AR and XR.
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A virtual reality (VR) game is a video game played in a digitally generated 3D environment that the player experiences and interacts with using VR hardware. The European Commission describes VR as technology that lets users interact with virtual objects and other users in 3D environments; common equipment includes a headset, tracking system and controllers. The precise setup depends on the device, platform and game.

What makes a game a VR game?

The defining feature is the environment: VR presents a digitally generated world as the place the player experiences, rather than simply adding graphics to a view of the room. ITU-T Recommendation P.1320 defines VR as “an environment that is fully generated by digital means” and says it should differ from the user’s local environment. The recommendation addresses XR meetings, so its definition is terminology guidance, not a study of games. ITU-T P.1320 (July 2022)

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In that world, a player may look around, reach toward virtual objects, or interact with other users. The European Commission’s FAQ on virtual worlds describes VR as “an immersive technology that allows users to interact with virtual objects and other users in 3D environments.” A game is one use of VR; VR itself is the technology and experience, not a particular genre or game format.

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What equipment does a VR game use?

VR commonly involves a head-mounted display, tracking and controllers. The headset provides the view into the virtual environment; tracking captures relevant movement, and controllers can provide ways to act within the game. These are common components, not a universal checklist: hardware and input methods vary by device, platform and game. Check the requirements for a particular title and system rather than assuming every VR game uses the same setup.

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How is VR different from AR and XR?

VR, augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR) are related terms, but they do not mean the same thing. In the European Commission’s terminology, XR is an umbrella term for immersive technologies including VR, AR and mixed reality (MR). Definitions can vary by technical organization and context.

Term What the user experiences How it relates to games
VR A digitally generated environment distinct from the local surroundings. The player experiences and interacts with a virtual world.
AR Digital information integrated with or added to the physical surroundings in real time. Digital content appears in relation to the player’s real environment.
XR A broad category covering immersive technologies; the European Commission includes VR, AR and MR. It is an umbrella label, not a synonym for VR alone.

ITU-T P.1320 frames the distinction in terms of environments: VR is fully digitally generated, AR combines real and virtual sensory components, and XR can contain real or virtual components or a combination. ISO/IEC TR 23844:2023 also groups AR, VR and MR as immersive technologies in the specific context of learning, education and training; it is not a definition of video games. ISO/IEC TR 23844:2023

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