Brain-computer interface in video games: Replacing the gaming control with your wired-up brain

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• July 5, 2022

Insight summary

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology stands to redefine video gaming by establishing a direct link between the brain and the computer, offering a more personalized and immersive gaming experience. This shift could lead to a broader demographic engagement, new business models, and increased job opportunities within the gaming industry, blending neuroscience with game development. However, it also brings ethical considerations and the need for regulatory frameworks to address data privacy, consent, and potential mental health issues.

BCI in the video games context

Virtual Reality (VR) has indeed elevated video gaming by offering a more immersive experience. However, the rise of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology is poised to further enhance the gaming landscape. Unlike traditional gaming setups that rely on external controls like keyboards and joysticks, BCI technology establishes a direct link between the brain and the computer. This connection can be achieved through invasive methods, such as implanting a microchip in various areas of the skull, or non-invasive tools like headsets capable of interpreting brain signals.

The narrative from Gabe Newell, the co-founder of US-based game developer Valve, underscores the potential of BCI in transforming video gaming into a sensory spectacle. By also sending and even modifying brain signals, BCI technology can directly interact with a player's visual and motor cortex. This level of interaction introduces a personalized gaming experience, where games can adjust to a player’s emotions and reactions. Such a development signifies a departure from the one-size-fits-all model, paving the way for a more tailored gaming experience that responds to individual emotional and cognitive states.

The development of BCI technology extends beyond just gaming; it presents a preview into a future where our interaction with digital realms becomes more intuitive and personalized. As this technology matures, it may lead to significant changes in how we interact with not only games but also various other digital platforms. Moreover, as BCI technology becomes more accessible, the ripple effects may be felt across numerous sectors, including education, healthcare, and entertainment. 

Disruptive impact

Valve is currently building an open-source BCI software that could allow developers to monitor gamers' brain signals while they are playing. By reading the gamers' level of boredom or enjoyment, the game could adapt its difficulty levels and pace. However, Newell says that this is just the beginning. As the technology develops, it could potentially bypass physical limbs or organs and edit signals directly in the brain, resulting in a more seamless and immersive experience.

Still, such potential raises some ethical questions. Accessing brain data directly could result in a loss of privacy and harvesting extremely sensitive information from a person's brain. In addition, similar to other types of digital technology, there are cybersecurity risks involved, with the potential damage possibly grave if a human brain is hacked. Newell acknowledges that for BCI technology to succeed, it has to be proven safe both health- and data-wise. 

However, the technology is developing quickly due to its primary use case existing outside the gaming industry perspective. For instance, BCI is experiencing rapid adoption in healthcare to connect prosthetic limbs with the brain and is contributing to a range of neuroscience studies. On September 2023, Elon Musk-owned BCI startup Neuralink opened its first human clinical trials, asking for volunteers suffering from spinal column injuries or  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Implications of BCI use in video games

Wider implications of BCI's use in the video game industry may include:

• A shift toward real-time, personalized gaming experiences, driving a more competitive and dynamic gaming industry that may attract a wider range of demographics.


• The emergence of extended in-game living, fostering a new form of digital society and potentially redefining social interactions both within and outside the gaming community.


• The ability for video game developers to transmit signals directly to the brain, leading to the creation of complex, fully-realized gaming worlds that extend the horizons of traditional game design.


• Real-time editing and customization of digital worlds according to gamers' desires, setting a precedent for personalized gaming experiences and elevating gamers' expectations for tailored content.


• The transition towards subscription-based or pay-for-experience business models, driven by the enhanced depth and personalization of gaming experiences that BCI technology can offer.


• An increase in job opportunities within the gaming industry for professionals skilled in blending neuroscience with game development.


• The attraction of a broader demographic to video gaming due to the intuitiveness and engagement facilitated by BCI, potentially expanding the gaming community.


• The establishment of new regulatory frameworks to address ethical, data privacy, and consent issues associated with BCI in gaming, leading to enhanced consumer protection and trust.


• The rise in energy demands to support sophisticated BCI systems, urging advancements in energy-efficient computing technologies to mitigate environmental impacts.


• The emergence of potential digital addiction or other mental health issues, requiring further research, public awareness campaigns, and support systems to address and mitigate these negative effects.

Questions to consider

• Would you be willing to try BCI to play a video game?


• What are the other potential benefits and risks in BCI video gaming?


• At what age should people be allowed to use BCI technology to play games, if at all?