Why ‘Embodiment’ Holds Greater Significance Than ‘Immersion’

In our ongoing journey through the intricacies of XR design, we delve into Synapse, a standout PSVR 2 game crafted by nDreams. Our focus today is on the idea of embodiment and why it’s pivotal for VR gaming experiences.

It’s been a year since this insight first appeared, and its relevance endures even as we step into 2025. We’re bringing it back to highlight embodiment as an essential design component in creating captivating VR content.

You can watch the full video below, or keep reading for a text version tailored for clarity.

### What is Embodiment?

Welcome to another episode of Inside XR Design, where today, we hone in on Synapse (2023), an exclusive title for PSVR 2 from nDreams. Our angle? Understanding the game through the lens of embodiment.

Now, you might wonder, what exactly is embodiment, and why aren’t we diving straight into gripping gameplay features like intense battles and clever designs? Trust me, grasping this concept will shed light on why specific design choices in Synapse resonate so well. So, hang tight with me for a moment.

Embodiment refers to the sensation of being physically present in a VR environment, as if you stand amidst a world you can almost touch.

But wait—don’t we call that immersion? Well, yes and no. While immersion does capture that sensation colloquially, there’s a distinction to be made. Immersion is when something entirely captivates your attention, like when a film’s narrative or action is so compelling that everything else fades away. But even in the most immersive films, have you ever felt physically part of the scene? Likely not.

That’s where embodiment steps in. Immersion is about capturing your attention, while embodiment is about sensing a physical presence within the virtual world.

Here’s the thing: VR games inherently achieve immersion. By enveloping your sight and hearing, they automatically command your attention. But a subset of VR games propel this notion further, making you feel as though your entire self has been whisked away to a different dimension, as if reaching out in the game would let you touch its world.

To simplify: Immersion equals attention, while embodiment equals the feeling of being truly present.

Embodiment, it turns out, isn’t an all-or-nothing affair. It exists on a spectrum where some VR experiences slightly embody you, while others fully immerse you bodily into their realms. So what makes the difference? Enter Synapse.

### Immersive Cover Mechanics

At its surface, Synapse appears to be a typical VR shooter, yet it introduces intentional design elements that heighten a sense of embodiment. Let’s start with the cover mechanics.

Most VR shooters allow you to use static walls as cover. When standing behind them, they block gunfire, but you don’t actively engage with these barriers—they’re just there.

Synapse, however, reshapes this dynamic by enabling you to physically grab onto walls and maneuver into and out of cover. This tactile interaction feels instinctive and seamlessly complements the gameplay.

When you physically move in relation to the wall, anchoring your movement by gripping it, the wall seems more tangible. Why? This interaction weaves it into your proprioceptive model, a fascinating phenomenon worth exploring.

### Decoding Proprioception

Let’s detour into proprioception, a concept frequently referenced when discussing immersive physical experiences in VR. To illustrate, imagine a cat approaching a table. Without conscious thought, it narrowly dodges the edge by moving its ear—showcasing proprioception in action.

It’s the internal framework your body uses to understand its position relative to surroundings, allowing subtle adjustments without active awareness. Hence, when you grip a wall and maneuver, the wall transitions from mere background to a crucial element in relation to your movement, triggering a stronger sense of embodiment.

### Reloading Up Close

Walls in Synapse offer more than mere cover—they’re integral in reloading your weapons, creating yet another layer of interactivity.

Let’s step back from embodiment a bit. Discussing reloading mechanics in Inside XR Design #4, we explored Half-Life: Alyx’s realism. Synapse, designed for fast-paced run-and-gun action, opts for a dynamic yet accessible reloading mechanism.

Magazines float once emptied, ready to be slid back in for quick reloading—suiting the game’s sci-fi universe while maintaining thrilling gameplay without overly complex mechanics.

The seamless interplay between the cover system and reloading is intentional. Grabbing walls is essential for cover, so reloading against a wall complements this perfectly, enabling simultaneous use of both functions.

Crucially, it’s another avenue for interacting with and perceiving walls as real objects. You must gauge the proximity to execute a reload effectively, reinforcing walls’ roles in your proprioceptive perception.

The resulting reality is when the environment shapes around you convincingly, you feel your presence more robustly embedded within the virtual world—a testament to true embodiment.

Immersive gaming experiences achieve attention, but it’s these tactile interactions that forge deeper connections. And Synapse doesn’t stop here; its telekinesis mechanics extend this embodiment to exhilarating new heights.

Discover what awaits on Page 2: Extend Your Reach »