Training Beyond Boundaries? Virtual Reality Scenario Training as Worldmaking for Complex, Life-Threatening Situations

The rapid development of extended reality (XR) technologies, notably virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), is transforming various sectors of society, including gaming, education, and security training. This chapter explores the adoption of VR in training emergency, police, and security personnel for complex, life-threatening situations based on qualitative interviews and participant observations with German state police agencies, software vendors, and police instructors. Some stakeholders promise a safe, immersive, and cost-effective alternative to traditional training methods, which are often considered resource-intensive and disruptive to general workflows. By simulating real-world encounters, VR training allows for comprehensive debriefings and data analysis, enhancing some learning processes. This chapter examines the spatial dimensions of VR, the role of gamification and creative guidance in scenario training, as well as potential unintended learning effects. It also addresses the challenges of integrating VR with traditional training frameworks, emphasizing the necessity for trainees to understand and navigate the virtual world effectively. While VR training presents unique advantages, it raises critical questions about its impact on real-world operations and the future of police training. The findings suggest that—if implemented and evaluated carefully—VR training can be a valuable supplement. But it is not a replacement for traditional training methods and comes with its own questions and problems.