Crafting Outstanding VR Trailers Without Mixed Reality Capture: A Guide to XR Design

Inside XR Design is our ongoing exploration into the art of immersive design, and today, we’ll focus on crafting unforgettable VR trailers using only in-game footage. Forget about complex mixed reality setups or intricate compositing—it’s all about smart planning and utilizing a well-earned playbook. Stick around, because in the end, I’ll offer a handy checklist of crucial technical tips to make your trailer truly pop, along with showcasing a trailer that perfectly encapsulates everything we’re about to discuss.

If you’d like, you can watch the entire video below or just keep reading for a streamlined text version.

To start, let’s get on the same wavelength about the importance of trailers. Here’s the deal: your game doesn’t sell itself—your trailer does. You might have created the best game ever, but if you can’t convincingly show people why it’s worth playing, many will simply pass it by. I can’t stress enough how vital it is that marketing isn’t an afterthought to game development; it’s integral to it. Spending years on development yet only a brief period on making what convinces people to buy it isn’t the best use of time.

So, how do you make a standout trailer without the hassle of mixed reality capture? Let’s delve into three straightforward lessons.

The Hook

The first—and perhaps the most crucial—lesson is about the hook. The hook is what makes your game distinctive. It’s that one thing that viewers see and think, “I really want to try that.” It could be anything from innovative combat, a striking art style, an inventive weapon, to a fun mechanic unique to your game. This is your game’s signature feature.

Your hook should shine as uniquely engaging or fascinating compared to other games in the same genre, which means you should be actively exploring other games in your field. Without a strong hook, potential players might skip your game in favor of something similar but more enticing.

It’s vital to grasp this point: for your trailer to have a hook, your game must have one too. If you haven’t pinpointed what that is, identifying it should be your priority before considering a trailer.

Now, let’s see an example of a hook in action. Consider the trailer for Hellsweeper VR (2023) by Mixed Realms. Watch and see if you can pinpoint the hook:

Did you spot it? If you mentioned "unique combat," you nailed it. Before any logos appear, the trailer immerses you immediately in ten seconds of genuinely distinctive VR combat, showcasing intriguing weapons and powers combined with exhilarating aerial maneuvers.

This focus on combat persists throughout the trailer. They avoid drowning us in lore or abstract exposition, choosing instead to consistently showcase the hook, clearly voicing, “This is why you’ll love playing our game.”

Show, Don’t Tell

Moving on to our next principle: show, don’t tell. Successful trailers reveal what’s compelling about a game by showing you, not telling you. In VR, this visual demonstration is crucial—people need to see what’s exciting to understand why they should don a headset to experience your game.

Boneworks (2019) from Stress Level Zero exemplifies this by letting its gameplay speak volumes. Let’s take a look:

This trailer seamlessly links various distinctive gameplay moments, painting a vivid picture in the viewer’s mind of the gaming experience.

Story Structure

Finally, let’s talk about storytelling. When I mention "telling a story," I’m not referring to outlining your game’s narrative.

Instead, showcase what players will do and feel during gameplay. That’s the narrative your trailer should aim to convey. Though it might be tempting to record general gameplay footage and piece it together post-capture, a more effective approach is deciding upfront the essential elements you want viewers to witness.

Plan not only which moments to highlight, but also arrange them into a narrative arc. Simply put, this involves creating an introduction, building rising action, and reaching a climax that leaves a lasting impression.

This approach is exactly what Respawn Entertainment executed expertly with the trailer for Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond (2020). Watch how they meticulously choreographed and staged specific moments, crafting a cohesive story about the player’s experience.

Continue on Page 2: Technical Checklist & Final Example »