Research finds playing virtual reality games can make you kinder

Playing virtual reality games can make you a kinder person, suggests study — 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)

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.

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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)
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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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Research finds playing virtual reality games can make you kinder

Rare coin from Britain’s only joint monarchy up for auction

In Hollywood, AI's no match for creativity, say top executives

Middle East war: global economic fallout

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