Exploring the Impact of VR Shooting Games on Perceptions of Real Firearms
In a striking exploration of virtual reality’s influence, researchers Sun Kim and Zhan Xu presented their findings on VR shooting games at the 2025 National Communication Association Convention held in Denver. Their research delved into the potential effects of these games on players’ attitudes towards real-world firearms.
Assistant Professor Sun Kim and Associate Professor Zhan Xu, both from the School of Communication, conducted an experimental study that was recently published in the International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction. The duo sought to uncover whether engaging in VR first-person shooter games could alter participants’ feelings about actual guns.
Their research concluded that gameplay had a limited effect on how individuals perceive real firearms. This finding contributes to the ongoing conversation about the impact of virtual reality games on real-world attitudes and behaviors.
Read More Here
