Pros And Cons Of Wearing Headphones When You Play VR Games

When you play virtual reality games, either at home or at a center dedicated to providing an immersive gaming experience, you'll wear a headset that will control what you see. You'll also hold one or more hand controllers to control the character that you see in your headset. Typically, you'll have the choice to wear a set of headphones to hear the soundtrack to the game, but not every virtual reality gamer takes this approach — in some scenarios, listening to the game on speakers around you may be appealing. There are some pros and cons to wearing headphones, including the following.

Pro: You'll Feel More In The Game

Just as it's possible to get lost in music when you're wearing headphones, you can also get lost in the virtual reality game with headphones — and that's a good thing. Whether you're playing a flying game, a racing game, or an adventure game, the ability to full immerse yourself into the gaming environment is more noticeable with headphones. Without them, you'll still be able to hear the sounds of things going on around you.

Con: Outside Communication May Be Difficult

When you're playing a virtual reality game, it's always important to be aware of your surroundings. This will save you from potentially bumping into a wall, a piece of furniture, or someone else. When you don't wear headphones, those with whom you're gaming can give you quick verbal cues to indicate that you need to move farther to one side, for example. With the headphones on, such communication may be a challenge.

Pro: You May Fare Better

It's often possible to hear small and subtle sounds when you're wearing headphones that you might not pick up otherwise. In the VR environment, this might be a difference in helping you to excel in the game. For example, if you're playing a fighting game, the headphones may allow you to hear the sound of someone approaching you from the rear, giving you time to turn and engage the threat.

Con: It Could Affect Your Hearing

Prolonged periods of wearing headphones, especially if you have the volume turned up, can be detrimental to your hearing. In the VR world, you may enjoy turning up the volume in your headphones with the goal of getting immersed in the game, but if you play VR games frequently, this could be bad for the long-term health of your ears.