GDC 2025 Session Viewer
Spatial Audio for VR: 'Batman: Arkham Shadow'
Ryan David Kull (Studio Sound Designer, Meta Platforms, Inc.)
Pete Stirling (Software Engineer, Meta Platforms, Inc.)
Julian Korzeniowsky (Studio Sound Designer, Meta Platforms, Inc.)
Location: Room 3024, West Hall
Date: Thursday, March 20
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Pass Type: All Access Pass, Core Pass, Audio Pass - Get your pass now!
Track: Audio
Format: Lecture
Vault Recording: TBD
Audience Level: Intermediate
Batman: Arkham Shadow advances the state of the art in VR audio, leveraging new technologies to produce AAA scale sound with a mobile performance profile. Camouflaj sound design walks through the process of bringing the Batman Arkham universe to VR. This presentation will cover the audio technologies and techniques employed and limitations navigated to re-imagine the Arkham experience for Meta Quest. Topics include leveraging Audio Middleware, Acoustic Ray-Tracing, mobile chipsets, 3D audio DSP, and creative audio techniques utilized to translate the flatscreen experience to VR. This presentation will also detail the collaborative process Camouflaj and Meta's XR Audio/RL Audio Research teams engaged in to successfully integrate these emerging spatial audio technologies into Batman: Arkham Shadow.
Takeaway
The presentation offers a behind-the-curtain look at the spatial audio development of Batman: Arkham Shadow. It begins with detailing the challenges faced during the tool evaluation phase, and then covers the various problems and solutions that emerged integrating these technologies. Next, the process of rapidly transforming research technology into a robust SDK is outlined, highlighting the steps and strategies involved in this transition. Finally, the presentation explores how the matured SDK was leveraged to significantly enhance the player experience in Batman: Arkham Shadow.
Intended Audience
Developers interested in learning about advanced spatial audio technologies & techniques for Virtual Reality.