Emotionally Driven Virtual Pet Games: User Needs and Future Trends

With the rapid advancement of technologies such as virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and affective computing, coupled with evolving player demands, emotionally oriented virtual pet games have garnered significant attention in the gaming industry. Although virtual pet games have seen notable progress in realism and interactivity, there remains a research gap in how to effectively integrate technology, users, and the market. This paper primarily explores the future development of emotionally oriented virtual pet games from three perspectives: user psychology, user needs, and technological analysis. Through a literature review and case studies, the paper examines the emotional design orientation, the evolution of user needs, and the current state of technological implementation in virtual pet games. It concludes that emotionally oriented designs help establish emotional connections between users and virtual pets, meet user needs, enhance happiness, and alleviate stress. Looking ahead, technological innovations will bring new gameplay experiences, and emotional education and mental health may become focal points of research. Additionally, the perfection of legal frameworks and ethical systems is essential for safeguarding user rights. Finally, the paper summarizes and looks forward to the future prospects of the discussed topics.