MazeWorld: A Multiplayer 3D Research Testbed for Cybersickness
Stephen J. Fieffer, Amanda K. Newendorp, Ashley B. Deal, Ghazal Shah Abadi, Michael C. Dorneich, Stephen B. Gilbert · 2025
Extended reality (XR) technology is increasingly used for team-based tasks such as military training, professional collaboration among geographically dispersed teams, and education. However, a significant limitation to the widespread adoption of XR technology is cybersickness, which induces discomfort and nausea, among other symptoms. Cybersickness research in single-user settings is well-established but less is known about how multiplayer tasks and environments influence its severity. To address this, we introduce MazeWorld, an open-source XR testbed designed for multiplayer research. The testbed is customizable to manipulate a range of factors that may be of interest to cybersickness research, such as locomotion methods and world design. MazeWorld combines multiplayer abilities with detailed data collection, allowing investigation into both individual and team dynamics. We discuss limitations and future research directions for studies involving MazeWorld.