Vehicle Immersion & Functional Cockpit Suggestion

First of all, congratulations on Forefront. In my opinion, it’s the closest thing we’ve ever had to a true Battlefield experience in VR. The large-scale battles, teamwork, helicopters, tanks, APCs and destruction are incredible.

However, I think one area has enormous potential to become the best vehicle experience in VR.

Make vehicle interiors fully immersive and functional.

Instead of feeling like the player is simply attached to a vehicle, every vehicle should feel like you’re actually inside a real military machine.

Tank

The driver should have a realistic driver’s position.

• Functional steering handles or wheel.
• Working dashboard.
• Speedometer.
• RPM gauge.
• Fuel indicator.
• Engine temperature.
• Gear indicator.
• Warning lights.
• Battery/engine startup animation.
• Interior sounds that change depending on speed and engine load.

For the gunner:

• Realistic sight/periscope.
• Zoom levels similar to modern MBTs.
• Stabilized optics.
• Range markings.
• Reload indicator integrated into the sight instead of floating UI.

The commander could have:

• Rotating periscope.
• Independent observation view.
• Ability to mark enemy vehicles for teammates.

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APC

Currently the APC feels more like a transport system than an actual armored vehicle.

It would be amazing if players actually sat inside the troop compartment.

Ideas:

• Interior benches.
• Small firing ports/windows to shoot through.
• Rear ramp animation.
• Interior lighting.
• Feeling the engine vibration.
• Players looking at each other while preparing to attack.

This would create much more immersion and squad interaction.

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Driver Experience

One of the biggest immersion improvements would be a true cockpit experience.

Instead of a generic first-person camera, let players physically look around inside the cabin.

Examples:

• Mirrors.
• Windshield wipers (for rainy maps in the future).
• Dashboard screens.
• Radio.
• GPS screen.
• Functional buttons.
• Gear lever.
• Handbrake.
• Steering wheel animations.

The goal isn’t necessarily to make every button interactive, but to make players feel like they are driving a real military vehicle.

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First-Person Camera Improvements

The first-person vehicle camera could be much more immersive.

Suggestions:

• Slight suspension movement.
• Camera shake from engine vibration.
• Recoil when firing.
• Dust on windshield.
• Rain effects.
• Cracked glass after taking damage.
• Reduced visibility when heavily damaged.
• Interior lighting changes at night.

Everything should reinforce the feeling that you’re inside the vehicle rather than simply watching through an invisible camera.

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Vehicle Damage

Vehicle damage could also become more immersive.

Examples:

• Smoke entering the cabin.
• Warning alarms.
• Flickering dashboard lights.
• Engine struggling before failing.
• Fire suppression effects.
• Hydraulic failures.
• Damaged optics.
• Temporary loss of stabilization after heavy hits.

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VR-Specific Features

Since Forefront is VR, the cockpit can become one of the game’s strongest features.

Examples:

• Physically grabbing steering controls.
• Looking through periscopes.
• Leaning to check blind spots.
• Manually opening hatches.
• Using physical switches to start the engine (optional).
• Looking at teammates inside the APC while talking.

These interactions are what make VR unique.

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Inspiration

Games like Battlefield, Squad, H*** Let Loose, GHPC, and even military simulators show how much immersion functional vehicle interiors can add. Forefront has the opportunity to become the reference for armored vehicle gameplay in VR by combining that realism with natural VR interaction.