SOMA Motion Sickness: Why It Happens & What Helps
SOMA walks you along the seafloor with head bob the menus cannot switch off, and the fix that works has been documented by players since 2015: a small config edit in the MoveState_Normal.hbs script file that zeroes the bob values. Community guides also document a Gameplay FOV value in the user settings file for widening the view. Frictional's later Safe Mode update changed the scares, not the camera, so the comfort work still happens in the files. Checked September 2026.
PC, PlayStation, Xbox · first-person · Partial settings · Player-reported motion-sickness risk: commonly reported by motion-sensitive players.
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
Risk levels summarise what passengers and riders commonly report, not measured testing.
Key facts
- SOMA runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox.
- The camera is first-person.
- Player reports place it in the moderate band for motion sickness.
- The game ships some comfort settings, but not a full set.
- 3 specific settings are listed on this page, starting with Head bob.
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Why SOMA can trigger motion sickness
The underwater stretches are the hard part. Walking the seafloor slows your movement, lengthens the sway cycle, and wraps the screen in haze that removes distant stable references, so your eyes ride a gentle continuous rock with nothing to anchor on. Indoors, the head bob continues over tight metallic corridors. None of it is extreme, which is the trap: mild sustained sway over hours is exactly the exposure pattern that builds nausea slowly. The engine keeps its movement values in editable script files, which is why the community fix has survived a decade of updates.
- Head bob with no menu toggle, indoors and on the seafloor
- Underwater haze removing distant visual anchors
- Slowed movement underwater lengthening every sway cycle
- Dark industrial interiors with low-contrast, close walls
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Comfort settings in SOMA
SOMA ships some comfort settings, but not a full set.
| Setting | Where | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Head bob | script/player/MoveState_Normal.hbs, a config edit | Zero the head bob values in the file, the fix players have documented on Steam and GOG since 2015. Back the file up first; it is an unofficial edit |
| Field of view | User settings file, the Gameplay FOV value; community guides document the edit | Raise it to widen the view. If your build shows an FOV control in the menus, use that first and skip the file |
| Safe Mode | Official mode selection | Removes the monster threat, not the camera motion. Useful if fear is compounding your symptoms, irrelevant if the bob alone is the trigger |
One guide explains these settings for every game: how field of view, motion blur, head bob and camera shake trigger motion sickness.
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What helps beyond the settings
- Make the config edit before the long underwater walks in the second half of the game
- Take the seafloor stretches in shorter pieces, surfacing to the menu between them if needed
- Fix your gaze on your destination light or structure rather than the drifting particles
- A drug-free sound-therapy app like Dizzout is designed to help once symptoms have started, through any headphones
The fixes people reach for once they step away from the screen are covered separately, with the trials attached: the remedy verdicts.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn off head bob in SOMA?
There is no menu option. The community fix, documented in Steam and GOG threads since 2015, is editing script/player/MoveState_Normal.hbs and zeroing the head bob values. It removes the walking sway cleanly. Copy the file before editing, and expect to reapply the change if an update or file verification restores the original.
Does SOMA have an FOV slider?
Community guides document raising the field of view through the Gameplay FOV value in the user settings file, and that route works regardless of menu layout. Sources disagree about what the in-game menus expose, so check your own settings screen first: if a slider is there, use it, and if not, the file edit covers the same ground.
Does Safe Mode help with SOMA motion sickness?
Only indirectly. Safe Mode, added officially by Frictional, removes the monster threat so you can explore without being hunted. It does not change head bob, field of view or any camera behavior. If dread was amplifying your symptoms it may take the edge off, but the camera fixes still live in the config files.
Other game motion-sickness guides
Sources & further reading
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Based on publicly reported player experiences and each game's documented settings, as of September 2026. Settings menus change with updates, so check your version. Game names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Motion-sickness sensitivity varies by person, so this is informational, not a game review or a substitute for a doctor's advice.