How can I reduce motion sickness in my third-person action game?

Sci-Fi, Dystopian & Simulation Game
1

Hey everyone, I’m working on my first third-person action game and I’ve run into a bit of a snag. The camera movement is making my testers feel dizzy and nauseous. It’s like I’ve accidentally created a motion sickness simulator instead of an exciting action game!

I’ve tried adjusting the camera follow speed and smoothing, but it’s still not quite right. The character moves pretty fast, and there’s a lot of quick turning involved in the gameplay.

Has anyone dealt with this issue before? What techniques did you use to make the camera movement feel more natural and less nauseating? I’m open to any suggestions, from tweaking camera settings to rethinking the overall movement system.

Thanks in advance for your help. I really want players to enjoy the action without reaching for the barf bag!

2

Adjusting camera distance can help too. Pulling back gives a wider view and less motion.

Try experimenting with different distances to find a sweet spot.

3

Adding motion blur can sometimes help. It smooths out quick movements.

But don’t overdo it. Too much blur can make things worse.

Maybe try a subtle effect and see how testers react?

4

Motion sickness in games is a real pain. I’ve found that adding a static element to the UI can help ground players. Like a crosshair or some kind of HUD that doesn’t move with the camera. It gives your eyes a fixed point to focus on.

Also, smooth out any sudden camera movements. Quick jerks are usually what set people off. Gradual transitions feel way better.

5

Camera shake can be a big culprit for motion sickness. Maybe try reducing or removing it if you have any. Also, a fixed camera option could help some players who are really sensitive to motion.

6

I had a similar issue in a game I was making. Adding a slight delay to the camera movement helped a ton. Also, letting players adjust FOV in settings can make a big difference for some people.