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Title/Year/Type/ SOUND AS SPATIAL HYPERTEXT IN FPS GAMES
2025
 Research
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SOUND AS SPATIAL HYPERTEXT IN FPS GAMES


2025 / Published in Galt. Publication Issue 06

Sound in multiplayer first-person shooter (FPS) video games operates as spatial hypertext—a networked system of cues that players interpret to orient themselves, anticipate encounters, and make spatial decisions. Far from being a mere supplement to visuals, sound functions as a material layer of game architecture, shaping how virtual space is perceived and navigated. Drawing on architectural theory, hypertext models, and examples ranging from Space Invaders to Valorant and CS:GO, the discussion traces how sound evolves from ambient backdrop to a dynamic spatial grammar. Directional audio, reverberation, and avatar-specific cues offer players real-time information about scale, distance, materiality, and enemy location—often before visual confirmation is possible. As players move through game environments, they become readers of sonic terrain, responding to layered acoustic signals much like hyperlinks in a non-linear text. This auditory engagement not only enriches gameplay but also reveals how digital soundscapes construct spatial meaning in interactive environments beyond gaming.