Elden Ring Streamer Uses Creative Balance Hack to Control Gamepad in Real Life

The alternative controller scene is always buzzing with creativity. From rhythm games that have you shredding on a real skateboard to quirky titles where you smack a giant stuffed cat butt, the realm of unconventional controllers is both fascinating and often overlooked. Recently, a fresh take on alternative controls is gaining some well-deserved attention.

Streamer Perri Karyal is known for her innovative approaches to gaming, often using her brain to interact with games. But what if the roles were reversed? What if a game could influence a player’s movements?

In a recent video, Karyal showcased just that. By employing a technique called galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS), which sends signals to the part of your ear responsible for balance, she connected her body to a controller.

“I can control your balance,” she stated. Karyal created a device that sends direct current through her head to stimulate her vestibular nerve, making her feel completely off-balance. By altering the current’s direction, she can be made to lean or fall in that direction. The video captures her running straight until someone nudges a joystick left, causing her to veer in that direction as well.

Karyal then used this tech to simulate G-forces while playing a popular racing game. The footage shows her swaying side to side in sync with her virtual car, creating a dizzying experience. She even mentioned seeing “flashing lights,” which sounds a bit concerning. The official esports account for the game took notice of her experiment, labeling it as “awesome.”

Interestingly, the technology behind this isn’t new. A journalist tried GVS back in 2005 and described the experience as disorienting and exhausting, struggling to walk straight while being thrown off balance by alternating currents.

Karyal emphasizes that this is not something to try at home, as GVS is not extensively researched and could lead to negative effects. Watching her experiment, however, is undeniably captivating!