Introduction

Live streaming has become an important form of digital entertainment, with platforms like Twitch reporting over 2.5 million concurrent viewers and more than 1.3 trillion minutes watched in 2023. While most live streams still occur in a traditional 2D-2D format, virtual reality (VR) streaming is gaining traction as streamers use immersive headsets like Meta Quest 3 and HTC　Vive to broadcast content viewed on standard 2D displays like PCs and cellphones. Virtual cameras, the digital tools that simulate real-world camera functions, play a key role in shaping VR streams, yet their usage patterns remain underexplored compared to traditional media. Although some studies have examined differences in viewer experience based on first-person, third-person, or second-person camera perspectives, little is known about how streamers commonly use these tools in practice. This study investigates the real-world application of virtual cameras in VR streaming, highlighting their role as active facilitators of narrative construction and viewer engagement, offering new insights into how they uniquely shape the interactive relationship between streamers and their audience.

Research Questions & Process

• RQ1 - Practice: How do VR streamers currently utilize virtual cameras during their streams?
• RQ2 - Enhancement: How can traditional media theory and practice better support planning and designing their virtual camera setups?

To address RQ1, we conducted a thematic analysis of 2,625 minutes of VR streaming videos from eight popular streamers, informed by prior research on user-created content and guided by Braun and Clarke’s methodology. This revealed common camera usage scenarios. We then interviewed ten media professionals with over 10 years of experience to gather their insights and critiques. Synthesizing these findings, we developed design considerations for VR streamers and implications for tool developers. Based on this work, we introduced the Immersion Triangle, a conceptual framework to guide intentional camera setup planning and foster deeper thinking about immersion in VR streaming for both creators and viewers.

Research Contribution

• Empirical knowledge about common virtual camera usage scenarios in VR streaming;
• A set of design considerations and implications derived from our video analysis and expert interviews to guide VR streamers and VR streaming tool developers;
• A conceptual framework, Immersion Triangle, to support exploration and understanding of immersion within the context of VR streaming.