Immersive Horizons Exploring Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and the Metaverse in Game Development - A Comprehensive Review

The gaming industry has been greatly impacted by virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and metaverse which provide immersive and interactive experiences. A detailed summary of the use of VR and AR in game development is given in this paper. It looks at how AR platforms are being developed for environmental simulations, assesses how presence is used in AR location-aware games, and talks about how mobile AR games that rely on image recognition are made. It also explores how VR technology affects gamer satisfaction, how AR is being used to create innovative gameplay and interactive interfaces, and how AR-based interactive training systems are being developed. We dive into the technical underpinnings, examining how VR and AR combine real-world and virtual elements to create innovative gaming experiences. This review attempts to provide insights into the current state of VR and AR in game development as well as the possible future trajectories of these technologies by looking into case studies and new developments. It becomes clear as we navigate this fusion of reality and imagination that VR and AR are more than just technological tools, rather, they are catalysts that are changing the way we interact with and experience games.