The Impact of Network Latency on Gaming QoE for an FPS VR Game

In this paper we present the results of two user studies aimed at exploring the effects of network latency on user experience in a First Person Shooter Virtual Reality multiplayer game. In both studies we observed the following metrics: Quality of Experience (QoE), willingness to continue playing in given network conditions, and the final outcome of the game (survival/death). After conducting the first study, we concluded that test methodology and contextual factors (e.g., social context, level of difficulty, weapon choice) may have had a strong influence on perceived QoE, subsequently causing inconclusive results. Therefore, we aimed to mitigate those factors through different methodology choices in the second study, which led to more conclusive, statistically significant results, indicating that user experience for the chosen game begins to suffer in cases of latency greater than approx. 100 ms (round trip time between client and server). In addition to the analysis of acquired results, we discuss the significance of methodology and context when conducting studies exploring gaming QoE in multiplayer environments.