Exploring Aim Assistance in a Foot-Based Target Shooting Game in Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) enables immersive interactions, yet throwing accuracy in VR remains a challenge. Aim assistance has been widely used in video games to improve accuracy and engagement, but its application in VR remains relatively unexplored. In this paper, we investigate the effects of aim correction on user performance and presence in a foot-based soccer aiming game in VR. We implemented an invisible bullet magnetism approach, subtly correcting the ball's trajectory toward the target instantaneously. In a between-subjects user study, we compared a regular version with an aim-assisted version. Results showed that aim assistance significantly improved performance without affecting the sense of presence or the perceived accuracy of the system. Our findings suggest that subtle aim correction techniques can enhance throwing/kicking interactions in VR without compromising the sense of presence.