The Primacy of ‘Embodiment’ Over ‘Immersion’

In our Inside XR Design series, we delve into outstanding examples of XR design, and today, we’re focusing on the game Synapse to explore the notion of embodiment and its significance in the world of VR gaming.

Editor’s Note: Can you believe it’s been an entire year since this was first published? Yet, its insights remain just as pertinent in 2025! We’re bringing it back to the forefront to further the conversation on embodiment, a key design element for engaging VR content.

You can catch the full video below, or read on for a text version of the insights.

### Defining Embodiment

Welcome back to another episode of Inside XR Design. Today, our topic is Synapse (2023), a PSVR 2 exclusive by nDreams. We’re specifically examining it through the lens of a concept called embodiment.

Now, why focus on embodiment instead of just the game’s exhilarating shooting, explosions, and clever design? Understanding embodiment helps us grasp why certain design choices in Synapse work so well. So hang tight for a moment.

Embodiment, simply put, is the sensation of physically being present within a VR world, as if you’re truly standing amidst that virtual environment.

You might wonder, “Isn’t that just immersion?” While people often use the terms interchangeably, it’s crucial to distinguish between them.

Think of ‘immersion’ as having your undivided attention. A movie can be immersive when its narrative captivates you so much that everything else fades away. But even the most engrossing film doesn’t make you feel as if you’re physically inside it.

That’s where ’embodiment’ enters the picture. While immersion pertains to attention, embodiment concerns your physical sense of presence in relation to the surrounding virtual environment.

All VR games naturally achieve immersion—your vision and hearing are commandeered, capturing your full attention the moment you put on a headset.

Yet, a select few elevate the experience, making you feel like your entire body has stepped into that world. You might sense the touch of virtual objects if you reach out.

So, immersion involves attention, but embodiment involves the sense of actually being there.

And to clarify, embodiment isn’t a binary concept. It’s a spectrum. Some VR games offer mild embodiment, while others provide a robust sense. So, what makes the difference?

That’s precisely what we’ll explore with Synapse.

### Cover You Can Feel

At first glance, Synapse might seem like a typical VR shooter, but its intentional design choices foster an intense sense of embodiment. Let’s start with the cover system.

Most VR shooters have cover systems—dodge behind a wall and it protects you. Yet, these walls don’t interact with your actual body; they’re just stationary objects.

In Synapse, however, walls and cover are dynamic. You can physically grasp a wall and maneuver your body around it, which feels instinctively natural and enhances gameplay.

By physically moving in relation to the wall—rather than simply strafing with a thumbstick—the wall feels more tangible. It becomes part of your proprioceptive model, that intuitive sense of your body’s position in space.

### Understanding Proprioception

It’s worth taking a moment to explain proprioception—a key concept when persuading our bodies they’re elsewhere.

Ever watch a cat nimbly avoid a table with its ear without seeming to notice? That’s proprioception in action. It’s the innate awareness of where your body parts are in relation to nearby objects.

In Synapse, you realize that grabbing a wall and moving your hand to the right shifts your body left, engaging more fully with the space. The walls are no longer just visual elements—they’re tactile, engaging entities within this virtual world. This heightened awareness makes you feel more present, or ’embodied,’ in the game.

### Mags Out

In Synapse, walls serve a dual purpose, as they also assist with reloading your weapon.

Stepping away from embodiment momentarily—this is such a brilliant design touch. I discussed the lifelike weapon mechanics in Half-Life: Alyx (2020) in depth during Inside XR Design #4. Synapse is more action-oriented, opting for a reload system that’s quick yet engaging.

Magazines float, ready to slide effortlessly back into your weapon, fitting the game’s sci-fi theme and simplifying reloading while retaining the thrill and pace.

This innovation complements the cover mechanic beautifully.

With one hand on the cover system, how do you reload? You simply use the wall to press the magazine back into your gun, seamlessly merging both systems.

However, this isn’t merely smart design—it reinforces interaction with the wall, enhancing the VR experience by requiring proximity awareness.

In essence, using walls for cover and to reload heightens their perceived reality, enriching the sense of embodiment by simulating genuine interaction.

As the virtual world gains this tangible quality, you feel more like you’re actually standing within it. That’s the power of embodiment, stepping beyond visual immersion to what we truly feel.

And when it comes to engaging with this virtual world… Synapse heightens the experience with an extraordinary telekinesis feature.

Explore further on Page 2: Extend Your Reach »