What are the best ways to test a game's compatibility with VR devices?

1 Choose the right VR platform

The first step to test your game's compatibility with VR devices is to choose the right VR platform for your target audience and your game's features. There are different types of VR devices, such as head-mounted displays (HMDs), standalone VR headsets, mobile VR headsets, and VR controllers. Each device has its own specifications, requirements, and limitations, such as resolution, field of view, refresh rate, tracking system, battery life, and input methods. You need to research and compare the different VR platforms and decide which one suits your game's genre, style, and mechanics.

2 Optimize your game's performance

The second step to test your game's compatibility with VR devices is to optimize your game's performance and ensure it runs smoothly and consistently on your chosen VR platform. VR games are more demanding than non-VR games, as they need to render two images for each eye at a high frame rate and resolution. A low or unstable performance can cause motion sickness, discomfort, and frustration for the users. You need to optimize your game's graphics, audio, physics, and code, and use tools such as profilers, debuggers, and analyzers to monitor and improve your game's performance.

3 Test your game's usability

The third step to test your game's compatibility with VR devices is to test your game's usability and ensure it provides a comfortable and intuitive experience for the users. VR games have different design principles and challenges than non-VR games, as they need to account for the users' physical and mental state, as well as the VR device's capabilities and limitations. You need to test your game's user interface, user feedback, user controls, user movement, and user interaction, and use methods such as user testing, heuristic evaluation, and usability testing to identify and fix any usability issues.

4 Test your game's accessibility

The fourth step to test your game's compatibility with VR devices is to test your game's accessibility and ensure it can be enjoyed by a diverse and inclusive range of users. VR games can pose various barriers and difficulties for users with different abilities, preferences, and needs, such as visual, auditory, cognitive, or physical impairments. You need to test your game's accessibility features, such as subtitles, color contrast, audio cues, difficulty levels, and alternative input methods, and use standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Game Accessibility Guidelines (GAG) to evaluate and improve your game's accessibility.

5 Test your game's functionality

The fifth step to test your game's compatibility with VR devices is to test your game's functionality and ensure it works as intended and without errors. VR games can have various bugs and glitches that can affect the quality, reliability, and security of your game. You need to test your game's functionality, such as logic, scenarios, events, and outcomes, and use techniques such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and regression testing to detect and correct any functional defects.

6 Test your game's compatibility

The sixth and final step to test your game's compatibility with VR devices is to test your game's compatibility and ensure it can run on different VR devices and platforms. VR games can have various compatibility issues that can affect the availability, compatibility, and interoperability of your game. You need to test your game's compatibility, such as hardware, software, network, and platform compatibility, and use tools such as emulators, simulators, and cross-platform engines to test and adapt your game for different VR devices and platforms.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?