{"id":102704,"date":"2025-07-29T18:13:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T18:13:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/102704\/"},"modified":"2025-07-29T18:13:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T18:13:13","slug":"meta-revealed-what-makes-a-vr-game-perfect-and-it-could-be-hinting-at-big-hardware-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/102704\/","title":{"rendered":"Meta revealed what makes a VR game perfect, and it could be hinting at big hardware changes"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li><strong>Meta revealed the ideal VR gaming session is 20 to 40 minutes<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Less than that and VR doesn&#8217;t feel worthwhile<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Longer and hardware issues can have a negative impact<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Meta has released new research it has conducted into the perfect length of VR games, and based on my experience testing its <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/computing\/virtual-reality-augmented-reality\/hands-on-meta-quest-3-review\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/computing\/virtual-reality-augmented-reality\/hands-on-meta-quest-3-review\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Meta Quest 3<\/a>, <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/computing\/virtual-reality-augmented-reality\/meta-quest-3s-review-an-affordable-mixed-reality-headset-that-everyone-might-want\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/computing\/virtual-reality-augmented-reality\/meta-quest-3s-review-an-affordable-mixed-reality-headset-that-everyone-might-want\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Meta Quest 3S<\/a>, and its older headsets, the results of the study ring true.<\/p>\n<p>This advice might not just mean we see alterations to the kinds of apps we get in VR, but also tweaks to Meta\u2019s hardware itself. Its published findings point to design issues that many have with existing hardware, problems that leaks of Meta\u2019s next headset release suggest have been resolved for its next device.<\/p>\n<p>More on that below, but first let\u2019s begin with Meta\u2019s research, and why 20-40 minutes is apparently the ideal length for a VR game session.<\/p>\n<p>You may like<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/apyzSFHGbqeCHD9YVsURYR.png\" alt=\"The VR game Goldilocks zone graphic from Meta showing 20-40 minutes is ideal\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/apyzSFHGbqeCHD9YVsURYR.png\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/apyzSFHGbqeCHD9YVsURYR.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Meta)<\/p>\n<p>As Meta succinctly explains in a short graphic (above), the \u201cGolidilocks session length\u201d is about 20-40 minutes based on its research.<\/p>\n<p>If a VR session is shorter than 20 minutes, we can be left feeling unsatisfied. While many mobile games can get away with a shorter 5 to 10 minute loop (or even less), VR requires more effort to enter (clearing space, donning the headset, etc), so it necessitates a more worthwhile experience.<\/p>\n<p>VR can still offer those shorter loops \u2013 such as Beat Saber delivering levels which are just one song long \u2013 but they need to be chained together in a meaningful way. For example, you can play several Beat Saber missions as part of a workout, or as a warm-up to your VR gaming sesh. For multiplayer games, if a match is typically 10 minutes long, a satisfying experience might be that your daily quests are something you usually accomplish in two games.<\/p>\n<p>After 40 minutes, the experience starts to have diminishing returns as people begin to feel friction from physical constraints \u2013 such as their fitness levels for a more active game, social isolation in single-player mode, limited battery life, or (for newcomers) motion sickness.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why Meta says it has found games between this length are just right (i.e. in the Goldilocks zone) for most VR gamers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gPNft9NzVv7oYxQ33VT8Ma.jpg\" alt=\"The Meta Quest 3 being used while someone boxes in a home gym\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gPNft9NzVv7oYxQ33VT8Ma.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/gPNft9NzVv7oYxQ33VT8Ma.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Meta)<\/p>\n<p>Now, if you\u2019re not a VR app developer, this will be directly useful for your software, but for non-developers, there are some things we can take away from Meta\u2019s findings.<\/p>\n<p>For a start, it provides some additional proof for the advice I always give VR newcomers: just start with a headset and get accessories later.<\/p>\n<p>Now, if they come free in a bundle that\u2019s one thing, but if you\u2019re looking to spend a significant sum on a headstrap with a built-in battery on day one, you likely want to think again.<\/p>\n<p>Yes there are plenty of people who do push through that 40-minute barrier and love it, and so having a larger battery is useful \u2013 I always think back to my time playing <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/gaming\/batman-arkham-shadow-review\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/gaming\/batman-arkham-shadow-review\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Batman: Arkham Shadow<\/a> for as long as my battery would allow and being so frustrated at waiting for it to recharge \u2013 there are many folks for whom just 20 to 40 minutes is perfect.<\/p>\n<p>As I always say, try your headset for a few weeks and see if you need a bigger battery or would benefit from any other accessories before buying them. With fast delivery, you won\u2019t be waiting long before you get them anyway if you do decide they\u2019re for you.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.26%;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CmacEfa7Kq3NJARUJ5wG7N.jpg\" alt=\"Pico 4 Ultra's front cameras are prominent as it rests on a table\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CmacEfa7Kq3NJARUJ5wG7N.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CmacEfa7Kq3NJARUJ5wG7N.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Is something slimmer on the way? (Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n<p>This research could also point to Meta\u2019s next VR headset design as it works to remove some of VR\u2019s hardware barriers.<\/p>\n<p>There are several rumors that its next headset, codenamed Puffin, and now Phoenix in leaks, will be ultra-slim goggles. Its rival, <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/computing\/virtual-reality-augmented-reality\/picos-next-xr-headset-could-be-lighter-and-smaller-than-ever-but-i-hope-it-just-skips-to-ar-glasses-instead\" target=\"_blank\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/computing\/virtual-reality-augmented-reality\/picos-next-xr-headset-could-be-lighter-and-smaller-than-ever-but-i-hope-it-just-skips-to-ar-glasses-instead\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Pico, is said to be designing something similar<\/a> (you can see the Pico 4 Ultra above).<\/p>\n<p>The bulk of the processing power and the battery would be shifted to a puck, kinda like <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/computing\/virtual-reality-augmented-reality\/apple-announces-vision-pro-overhaul-with-visionos-26-here-are-the-6-biggest-updates-headed-to-apples-vr-headset\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/computing\/virtual-reality-augmented-reality\/apple-announces-vision-pro-overhaul-with-visionos-26-here-are-the-6-biggest-updates-headed-to-apples-vr-headset\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Apple\u2019s Vision Pro,<\/a> but with even more crammed into the pocket-sized pack, so that the weight on a person\u2019s head is only a little over 100g.<\/p>\n<p>Considering a Meta Quest 3 weighs 515g, this would be a serious change, and could transform the Horizon OS headset into something people can (and want) to wear for hours on end rather than less than an hour.<\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;s more, with the battery in a person&#8217;s pocket, Meta could make it even larger than before without affecting comfort. Though, as with all speculation, we&#8217;ll have to wait and see what Meta announces next, perhaps it&#8217;ll be nothing like a headset and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/computing\/virtual-reality-augmented-reality\/metas-next-wearables-announcement-might-include-a-smartwatch-for-its-smart-glasses\" target=\"_blank\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/computing\/virtual-reality-augmented-reality\/metas-next-wearables-announcement-might-include-a-smartwatch-for-its-smart-glasses\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">a smartwatch instead<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>You might also like<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Meta revealed the ideal VR gaming session is 20 to 40 minutes Less than that and VR doesn&#8217;t&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":102705,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[158,67,132,68,729,730],"class_list":{"0":"post-102704","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-virtual-reality","8":"tag-technology","9":"tag-united-states","10":"tag-unitedstates","11":"tag-us","12":"tag-virtual-reality","13":"tag-vr"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114937882847708608","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102704","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102704"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102704\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}