Integrating virtual and augmented reality in storytelling: exploring the evolution of narratives, audience engagement, and technological accessibility
Jing Wang · International Journal of Inclusive Education · 2025
As virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies become increasingly prevalent, the narrative techniques in film and television are undergoing significant transformation. Features, such as interactivity and immersion, have reshaped audience engagement, raising new questions about narrative form and accessibility. This study explores how VR/AR technologies influence narrative structures and enhance emotional connection and active participation among audiences, while also challenging traditional storytelling approaches. Adopting a mixed-methods design, the research integrates qualitative case studies and quantitative surveys. Data were gathered from semi-structured interviews with 203 industry experts, content analysis of three VR/AR projects and feedback surveys from 116 audience members. The findings reveal that VR/AR deepens viewer engagement, transforming linear storytelling into interactive, immersive experiences. The study highlights VR/AR's potential to innovate narrative techniques and offers valuable insights for filmmakers, writers and technologists. By combining creator and audience perspectives, this research contributes to the understanding of immersive storytelling's evolution, acknowledging both its opportunities and inherent challenges. However, given the limited number of VR/AR projects and participants analysed, the generalisability of findings remains constrained.