What is FOV?

Have you ever been messing with your gaming settings and wondered what “FOV” does? FOV stands for Field of View, which changes how much your character’s camera in a video can see on screen. Essentially, it refers to the extent of the observable game world that is visible on the screen at any given moment. It is a crucial aspect of game design that significantly impacts player experience and immersion.

Depending on the video game, different genres use FOV in distinct ways to enhance gameplay. For example, FPS (first-person shooters) usually have a narrower, lower FOV to create a more immersive experience, making players feel as though they are truly inside the game world. On the other hand, third-person games, such as MMO role-playing or action/adventure games, might use a wider, higher FOV to focus the player’s attention on specific elements of the environment or narrative, especially when a game is heavily story-driven.

Low Field of View (60° - 90°)

As you can see in the image above, the character’s in-game view is narrow, while the game camera is zoomed in, giving the player better real-time situational awareness. This view is beneficial in first-person shooting games because it allows the player to see other enemy players from a great distance, making them more visible and easier to spot and shoot. The drawback is that it limits your peripheral vision, making you vulnerable to threats that are not in front of you.

High Field of View (90° - 120°)

In MMO RPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online) or action/adventure games, having a good view of your entire surroundings really helps you succeed in completing your mission. When the game is fast-paced, seeing more of your environment allows players to better anticipate enemy movements and react quickly to threats. Plus, with a wider FOV, players can enjoy a more immersive experience, making the game world feel bigger and more engaging. This broader perspective draws players deeper into the gameplay, making it all the more exciting and fun.

Thigh might be confusing at first, especially if you’re used to playing with a set of POV, but think of FOV like your in-game eyesight. A lower FOV zooms everything in, making objects look bigger and closer. A higher FOV pulls the camera back, letting you see more around you. That’s why changing FOV can make a game feel slower, faster, more immersive, or even more competitive. Adjusting FOV settings can also accommodate individual player preferences, helping those who may experience discomfort or motion sickness with certain FOV levels.

Most competitive players prefer a higher FOV because it improves awareness. You can spot enemies approaching from the sides, track more movement, and avoid that “tunnel vision” feeling. In fast-paced shooters, this can make reactions feel quicker and smoother, especially when using a mouse and keyboard. In open-world games, a wider, higher FOV can enhance the sense of scale, allowing players to appreciate vast landscapes and intricate details that contribute to world-building.

If you’re curious about whether FOV settings influence your gaming experience, the answer is yes! A higher FOV means your game needs to render more on-screen data, which can sometimes reduce your FPS, especially if your PC has entry-level components like your GPU or CPU that mainly handle video processing. So, if your PC feels a bit sluggish, trying a slightly lower FOV might give you a noticeable performance boost, leading to smoother, more enjoyable gameplay.

At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all ‘best” FOV for everyone. Many players find that a range between 90 and 110 works well for shooters, but the most important thing is sticking with what feels right and allows you to perform your best. If a game feels a bit off, adjusting your FOV is a quick and easy way to improve your experience. Remember, Field of View (FOV) isn’t just a technical setting - it’s a critical part of how you connect emotionally with the game. Go with the FOV setting that works best for you to create a sense of freedom and adventure, drawing you deeper into the story and the world around you.