RetreatVR: A Design Exploration of an In-Game Quiet Room for Virtual Reality Games for Neurodivergent People

Virtual Reality (VR) games are increasingly popular but often inaccessible to neurodivergent players due to sensory overload and
limited options for self-regulation. Abruptly exiting VR in moments of overwhelm, e.g., by taking the HMD off, is not always a viable
solution, as sudden changes in realities can add additional cognitive strain and disorient players. Drawing on established practices from physical quiet and sensory room design and informed by the PAS 6463:2022 guidelines, we designed and created a VR game prototype, RetreatVR, with a built-in, always available quiet room that offers opportunities for neurodivergent players to regulate in-game. Through the design exploration and a preliminary expert review, we collected insights into challenges and opportunities of transferring physical world guidelines for quiet rooms to the VR space.