Immersive Media Communication graduate students Isaac Wu (left; game developer) and Leila Okahata (researcher). The student research team tested a prototype of their custom-built virtual reality game at Climate Change Game Night 2025. (Jeremy Henkelman-Parker via SWNS)
UO researchers tested how virtual reality games and experiences can shape people's sense of empathy and altruism. They built a custom VR game, based in the fictional community Unity Springs, where players helped a little boy find his lost dog. (Samantha Lorenzo via SWNS)
Immersive Media Communication graduate students Samantha Lorenzo (left; lead author and researcher) and Isaac Wu (game developer). The student research team tested a prototype of their custom-built virtual reality game at Climate Change Game Night 2025. (Samantha Lorenzo via SWNS)
Immersive Media Communication graduate students Isaac Wu (left; game developer) and Leila Okahata (researcher). The student research team tested a prototype of their custom-built virtual reality game at Climate Change Game Night 2025. (Jeremy Henkelman-Parker via SWNS)
By Stephen Beech
Playing virtual reality games can make you a kinder person, according to new research.
UO researchers tested how virtual reality games and experiences can shape people's sense of empathy and altruism. They built a custom VR game, based in the fictional community Unity Springs, where players helped a little boy find his lost dog. (Samantha Lorenzo via SWNS)
Immersive Media Communication graduate students Samantha Lorenzo (left; lead author and researcher) and Isaac Wu (game developer). The student research team tested a prototype of their custom-built virtual reality game at Climate Change Game Night 2025. (Samantha Lorenzo via SWNS)
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.