Evaluating the Role of Lighting and Acoustics in Shaping User Experience in Gaming Environments

https://doi.org/10.46610/JoRAAS.2026.v011i02.001

Abstract

Modern gaming lounges are not judged solely by their hardware but increasingly by their spatial ambience, particularly lighting and acoustics, which shape immersive and engaging user experiences. These environmental factors influence comfort, focus, and emotional connection, making them integral to user satisfaction and retention. This study investigates how lighting and acoustic environments influence user comfort, focus, and engagement in gaming cafes to understand their contribution to immersive user experience. The study was conducted in two popular Bangalore gaming lounges, LXG Domlur and 1vX Jayanagar, chosen for their distinct lighting and acoustic designs. Data collection combined objective environmental measurements, visual mapping, and user-centred feedback. Lighting levels were measured using the BEETECH B-105 Lux Meter (0–400,000 lux range), and sound levels were assessed with the BEETECH B-401 Decibel Meter (35–135 dB range). Surveys were administered to a total of 40 participants, evenly split between the two sites, capturing perceptions of lighting quality, acoustic comfort, and immersion. Semi-structured interviews with managers and staff provided operational insights, while photographic documentation mapped lighting fixtures, acoustic treatments, and spatial zoning for comparative analysis. The results showed a three-fold difference in average lighting levels between the cafés, LXG at 6.7 lux and 1vX at 21.3 lux, yet LXG achieved slightly higher lighting quality ratings (50% rated “good” vs. 45.5% at 1vX). Eye strain impacted 42.5% of users overall, with a higher percentage of users using one type of display than the other. The average amount of noise measured in LXG was 68.8 dB, and 1vX was 60.8 dB, which is an 8 dB difference, with 52.5% of the users reporting that noise in the background is frequently a source of distraction from the game they are playing. Of these users, 62.5% preferred RGB lighting; additionally, over 50% of these users frequently used headsets in order to enhance their ability to hear sounds coming from the game due to the acoustics that the café does not support. This study of gaming cafés provides the first comprehensive assessment of how both the lighting and acoustics within a gaming café affect users, and the literature currently available does not provide a complete description of the spatial experience of the gaming cafés from the architect’s point of view. Optimizing lighting and acoustics in gaming cafes enhances users’ comfort, playing time and ability to focus, as a result prolonging return visits and increasing customer loyalty. Furthermore, using EBP guidelines to make changes to the gaming café will allow for the creation of an environment that will provide the user with a high level of comfort while also benefiting the business with continued profitability over the long term.