VR Chat is probably a lot like hell. Sure, it can be absolutely hilarious, but it can also be an overwhelming cacophony of sights and sounds, with meme-spouting characters ranging from King of the Hill’s Hank to Pokémon’s Lugia and everything in between. It’s not for the faint of heart or the easily offended, but a recent incident captured in a stream by YouTuber Rogue Shadow VR proved, despite all the madness, players can set aside the silliness for a moment and show concern for an individual in distress.
On Wednesday, a video posted by YouTube channel Rogue Shadow VR opened on a crowd of characters in VR Chat, a social platform where players can become any character they want and spend time with others either roleplaying, chatting it up, or being a troll. The footage features avatars like Lugia, Morty from Rick and Morty, a neon, raving Wendy mascot from the restaurant chain, and a robot. Then, the robot falls to the ground, so it seems, and some pretty scary breathing sounds can be heard from the player’s mic. Nearly instantly, other players take note of the situation, stop what they’re doing, and form a circle around the player.
It seems the robot’s player was using full-body tracking VR and after everyone took inventory of the situation, they determined the player was having a seizure. Most players cautioned others and expressed concern for the robot as he made troubling, labored breathing noises. Some didn’t quite get the memo and continued flitting about, trolling or role-playing their characters, but eventually, the chaos stopped. The players remained in a crowd around the robot and spoke calmly to him, asking if he was alright, if he had removed his headset, and if he was indeed okay.
Eventually, the player confirmed he was fine, divulged that he believed he’d had a seizure and was welcomed back to concerned VR Chat patrons. Everyone suggested he seek medical attention and “call it a night” when he came to, a shocking bit of normalcy in a game where people trade silly jokes and act out their weirdest fantasies with custom characters. Though the concerned players could do little to help the robot during his time of need, it was a touching moment to see others do their best to come together and make sure one of their own was indeed fine.
If you’re ever playing around in VR Chat and a stressful, potentially dangerous situation arises, you’d do well to go by these players’ example and do your part to help out however you can. Speaking to someone and calming them down can go a long way, even if you’re not in a position to physically assist.
