Our series, Inside XR Design, dives deep into the art of immersive design. Today, we’ll explore how to craft an unforgettable VR trailer using nothing but in-game footage. No need for mixed reality setups or complex compositing—just strategic planning and a time-tested approach. Stick around until the end, where I’ll share a technical checklist to elevate your trailer and showcase an example that illustrates these principles perfectly.
You can watch the complete video below, or keep reading for a detailed text version.
First, let’s align on why trailers are crucial in the first place.
Here’s the deal: your game doesn’t sell itself. Your trailer does.
You might have created the most incredible game ever, but if you fail to convey why people should play it, many will never even give it a chance. So let me emphasize this: marketing your game should not be an afterthought; it’s an integral part of game development. Spending years crafting your game but only a few weeks on the marketing materials is not the best strategy.
So, how can you create a trailer that grabs attention, even without using mixed reality capture? Let’s break it down into three simple lessons.
The Hook
The first and arguably most important lesson is crafting the hook. The hook is what makes your game pop. It’s that one element that makes people say, “I’ve got to try that.”
It might be cool combat, a striking art style, an innovative weapon, or a fun mechanic that stands out from the rest. It’s the signature of your game.
Your hook should highlight what makes your game notably fun or interesting compared to others in the same genre (which means you should regularly play other games in your field). Without a hook, people won’t see a standout reason to choose your game over others.
And here’s a crucial point: if your trailer is to have a hook, your game needs one first. If you haven’t identified your game’s hook, that’s step one before even considering a trailer.
Now, let’s see a hook in action. We’ll check out a trailer for Hellsweeper VR (2023) by Mixed Realms. Watch carefully and try to spot the hook:
Did you catch it? If you thought “unique combat,” you nailed it. Right before any logos appear, you’re treated to ten seconds of enticing VR combat, showcasing intriguing weapons and powers with airborne action.
And the combat stays front and center throughout. They don’t bog it down with lore or abstract exposition; they keep emphasizing the hook, saying, “This is why you want to play our game.”
Show, Don’t Tell
Which brings us to our next point: show, don’t tell. The best trailers demonstrate what’s excellent about a game rather than merely saying it. In VR trailers, this is even more vital—people need to see the excitement to understand why they should don the headset and dive in.
The Boneworks (2019) trailer by Stress Level Zero embodies this approach by letting the gameplay do the talking. Let’s take a look:
By linking together these distinctive gameplay moments, the trailer paints a vivid picture of what playing the game feels like.
Story Structure
Now to our third lesson: tell a story.
And when I say “tell a story,” I don’t mean explain your game’s plot.
The aim is to show viewers what they will do and feel when playing your game. That’s the narrative your trailer should convey.
While it might be tempting to capture general gameplay footage and piece it together later, a more effective approach is to decide what key moments you want to showcase from the outset.
Not only should you pinpoint the moments you want to highlight, but also arrange them in a narrative arc. This means structuring your trailer with an introduction, rising action, and a thrilling climax to leave a lasting impression.
That’s precisely what Respawn Entertainment achieved with the Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond (2020) trailer. As you watch, notice how intentional moments are orchestrated to narrate a cohesive story about the player’s experience.
