Grieving in virtual worlds: emotional processes and generational differences in avatar-based memorials on VRChat

Introduction Digital media and immersive technologies have introduced new modes of grieving, particularly within virtual reality (VR) environments where users inhabit emotionally meaningful avatars. While existing research focuses mostly on commemorating real-world deceased individuals, little is known about how people experience grief when virtual avatars—embodied extensions of identity—are lost, deleted, or symbolically “died.” This study addresses this gap by examining generational differences in how users interpret and respond to avatar loss within VR-based memorial ceremonies. Methods Two avatar-based funerals were conducted on VRChat using qualitative research methods: a solemn ceremony for a retired World of Warcraft “Death Knight” and a playful sea-burial for a Sea of Thieves “Pirate.” Data were collected through participant observation and sixteen semi-structured interviews with users aged 18–65. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify key dimensions of emotional and cultural meaning. Results Two overarching thematic dimensions emerged: (1) Generational Differences and Cultural Influence, and (2) Emotional Experience During Digital Mourning. Younger participants tended to approach avatar loss with humor, narrative play, and flexible identity experimentation, whereas older participants engaged with greater solemnity, ritual structure, and symbolic continuity in memorial practices. Discussion Integrating grief theory with socio-technical perspectives, the study proposes the Hybrid Grief Model of Virtual Mourning (HGM-VM), conceptualizing digital grief as a dynamic interplay of emotional transition, oscillatory coping, and continuing bonds within virtual spaces. The findings show that virtual mourning does not diminish emotional authenticity but reconfigures it through immersive, participatory, and generationally shaped practices, offering theoretical and practical implications for designing inclusive and emotionally resonant virtual memorial environments.