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Metro Awakening

I worked as a Quality Assurance intern on Metro Awakening, a AAA VR title developed by Vertigo Games Amsterdam. Metro Awakening is a VR-exclusive, story-driven first-person adventure set in the irradiated tunnels of post-apocalyptic Moscow.

Some of my tasks involved testing daily builds across multiple platforms, reporting and reproducing bugs, and ensuring compliance with platform requirements. Alongside QA tasks, I contributed feedback to the design team and introduced workflow improvements such as a structured testing tracker. This experience gave me hands-on knowledge of VR development, sharpened my eye for detail, and strengthened my ability to combine game design thinking with production workflows.

Team Size: 5

Project Duration: 5 months

Role(s): Quality Assurance Intern

Project Type: VR narrative shooter

Tools: Jira, VR, Unreal Engine 4

Link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2669410/Metro_Awakening/

My Work

During my internship at Vertigo Studios Amsterdam, I was part of the Quality Assurance (QA) team, where I contributed to ensuring the stability and playability of the studio’s VR title throughout key development phases. My daily responsibilities included testing builds across multiple VR platforms, identifying and reproducing bugs, and reporting them in detail through Jira using video captures, summaries, and reproduction steps. I also assisted with Virtual Reality Checks (VRC) and Technical Requirement Checks (TRC) to ensure compliance for platform submissions to Sony and Meta.

Beyond standard QA tasks, I took initiative in improving workflows within the team. I co-created a “QA Bingo Sheet,” a structured spreadsheet to help track feature coverage and testing consistency during milestone sprints. I also supported the design team by writing feedback documents, offering my perspective as both a QA tester and aspiring game designer. Additionally, I contributed to external playtesting support by assisting in the final QA stages of partner studio projects.

Learned Skills & Insights

This internship gave me a unique mix of technical, design, and professional skills:

  • Technical Knowledge of VR Development: Gained hands-on experience with multiple VR platforms (PlayStation VR, Meta Quest), learning their specific runtimes, input differences, and performance considerations.

  • QA Workflow Mastery: Developed strong skills in bug detection, reproduction, and communication through Jira, as well as experience with automated build systems (Jenkins).

  • Design Thinking in QA: Learned how to combine a designer’s perspective with QA work by providing actionable gameplay and design feedback.

  • Workflow Innovation & Initiative: Strengthened my ability to improve processes, such as by designing tools (QA Bingo Sheet) to streamline testing.

  • Adaptability & Reflection: Quickly adapted to an unfamiliar role and technology (VR), while reflecting on and improving my approach to teamwork and hybrid work environments.

  • Communication & Collaboration: Improved my clarity in reporting and collaboration with developers, designers, and producers, learning to provide precise, context-rich feedback.

This experience not only gave me a solid understanding of QA in AAA VR development but also broadened my perspective on how design and testing intertwine, reinforcing my skills as a designer who can bridge creativity with production realities.

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