🤢 Motion Sickness in VR: Why It Happens and How to Avoid It

Adrian Bartoň
2 days ago
3 min read

VR is an incredible technology, but almost every beginner has experienced that unpleasant feeling — dizziness, pressure in the stomach, or mild nausea during gameplay. This phenomenon is known as motion sickness (also called VR sickness or cybersickness) and it’s one of the most common obstacles for first-time VR users.

The good news? You can understand it — and you can significantly reduce it, or avoid it altogether.

🧠 Why Does Motion Sickness Occur?

Motion sickness in VR is caused by a conflict between what your eyes see and what your body feels.

👁️ Your eyes say: “You’re moving!”

You see movement — walking forward, turning, flying.

🦵 Your body says: “You’re standing still.”

Your inner ear (vestibular system) doesn’t feel any motion or acceleration.

This mismatch makes the brain think “something is wrong” → resulting in nausea. It’s an ancient evolutionary mechanism originally designed to detect poisoning.

🔍 What Contributes the Most to VR Sickness?

1️⃣ Latency

If the image lags behind head movement, the brain detects inconsistency. Modern headsets target latency below 20 ms.

2️⃣ Incorrect IPD Setting

Each person has a different interpupillary distance.Incorrect IPD causes eye strain and a blurred image.

3️⃣ Locomotion (Movement in VR)

The biggest trigger!

Teleportation → safest
Smooth locomotion → moderate risk
Flying / swimming → very demanding
Joystick turning → highly uncomfortable for beginners

4️⃣ Low Frame Rate (FPS)

Below 70 FPS, most users feel discomfort.Ideal: 90–120 FPS.

5️⃣ Poor ventilation / overheating

Heat and foggy lenses accelerate nausea.

🛠️ How to Prevent Motion Sickness?

⭐ 1. Start slowly

Use VR for only 10–15 minutes per session during your first week.Your brain adapts surprisingly fast.

⭐ 2. Use teleportation

Teleport is the most comfortable locomotion method. You can gradually switch to smooth locomotion later.

⭐ 3. Adjust your IPD

Every headset allows you to set interpupillary distance. Correct IPD = sharper image + less eye fatigue.

⭐ 4. Sit for demanding experiences

Driving, flying, or fast action games are the biggest triggers. Play them seated at first.

⭐ 5. Improve airflow

A small fan works wonders. A cooler environment = far less nausea.

⭐ 6. Avoid joystick turning

Turn your body, not the stick. It feels more natural.

⭐ 7. Stop immediately when symptoms appear

If you continue, your brain may form a connection: “VR = discomfort. ”Take a break — then come back later.

📈 Can Motion Sickness Go Away Completely?

Yes — most people adapt within 1–3 weeks. Your brain learns to interpret VR movement naturally and symptoms diminish over time.

Professional VR players, testers, and developers are proof of this.

🧪 What Can Developers Do?

Developers have enormous influence on user comfort:

Use standard locomotion best practices
Ensure high frame rate
Minimize artificial turning
Add vignetting/tunneling during fast movement
Avoid sudden acceleration or bobbing camera motion
Stabilize the horizon wherever possible

A well-designed XR application can be comfortable even for long sessions.

🎯 Summary

Motion sickness is a common part of early VR experiences, but you don’t need to fear it.Once you understand why it happens and apply a few proven techniques, you can almost eliminate it.

👉 Remember: VR is like training.Your brain learns — and when you give it time, it rewards you with a deeper and more natural XR experience.