Unity, the premier platform for developing real-time 3D (RT3D) content, has unveiled full support for visionOS, allowing developers to create immersive content for Apple’s newly-released Mixed Reality (MR) headset, the Apple Vision Pro.
Unity's support for visionOS includes templates, samples, and additional resources to further facilitate the development process. With this support, developers can now leverage Unity's versatile authoring workflows, comprehensive XR tools, and cross-platform capabilities to create distinct spatial experiences for the Vision Pro.
Unity initiated beta support for visionOS back in July 2023, following the introduction of the Vision Pro, targeting game and app developers seeking to create applications for the new headset. After over six months in beta, Unity finally announced the full availability of its visionOS support for all Unity Pro, Enterprise, and Industry subscribers.
The company currently does not offer support for visionOS in its basic Unity Personal tier. However, developers can access visionOS support through a free 30-day trial of Unity Pro, with a subscription plan starting from $185/month.
"Thousands of developers around the world participated in our beta program, collaborating closely with our engineering teams and generously sharing knowledge to build a community primed for a new era of spatial computing," says Unity in a detailed blog post. "The program attracted a broad range of developers, many of whom are building spatial experiences for the first time."
Light Brick Studios, a creative digital play company founded by LEGO® enthusiasts, was one of the beta testers. With Unity, they are bringing their highly praised game, LEGO® Builder’s Journey, to the Vision Pro.
"Unity has been very supportive in bringing their well-known workflow to a completely new type of system. Thanks to the support for visionOS, we have been able to tap into many of the features that make Apple Vision Pro such a unique platform," said Mikkel Fredborg, LEGO® Builder’s Journey technical lead.
Resolution Games, a leading game studio renowned for titles such as Demeo, Racket Club, and Blaston, is also developing an undisclosed project utilising Unity's support for visionOS’s Shared Space. It is set to debut on the Vision Pro later this year.
Other projects leveraging Unity’s official support for visionOS include leading automotive manufacturer AUDI AG's immersive digital display of their vehicles through their Virtual Exhibit XR on the Vision Pro; TRIPP, a Time Magazine-recognised VR meditation app; and Triband, the comedy studio utilising Unity visionOS support and Unity PolySpatial to bring their game WHAT THE GOLF? To the Vision Pro.
Creating new spatial experiences
Developers can utilise Unity’s support for visionOS to craft three main types of spatial experiences.
Firstly, developers utilsing Unity on the Apple Vision Pro can create immersive mixed-reality experiences by leveraging Unity’s newly developed PolySpatial platform, which was created solely for the Vision Pro. This technology allows developers to seamlessly blend digital content with the real world.
In addition, it empowers Unity-based apps and games to run natively on the Vision Pro, utilising features such as low latency pass-through and high-resolution rendering from visionOS. This guarantees that gaming experiences on the Vision Pro are not only engaging and immersive but also fully optimised to leverage the hardware's capabilities.
Developers can also port existing virtual reality games or develop entirely new immersive experiences that replace the user's surroundings with alternate environments. On top of that, they can design content that runs in a 2D window, offering users the flexibility to resize and reposition it within the Shared Space.
A notable application of PolySpatial is demonstrated in the successful porting of the game "What the Golf?" to the Vision Pro. Triband, the game's developer, effectively used Unity's multi-platform support and comprehensive development tools to repurpose content and deliver an engaging experience for Vision Pro users.
Developing spatial apps for Apple Vision Pro using Unity is a straightforward process. First, download the latest version of Unity 2022 LTS from the Unity Hub. It is important to note that development for visionOS is exclusively supported on Mac computers with Apple silicon.
How you can master the basics of Unity
Joining a Unity bootcamp provides an invaluable opportunity to learn Unity coding fundamentals before embarking on game development for the Vision Pro. This immersive learning experience equips aspiring developers with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively leverage Unity's platform for creating captivating spatial experiences.
Our 14-week Unity Bootcamp programme provides comprehensive training in Unity, covering essential concepts and practical skills for game development.
The programme begins with setting up Unity and progresses through fundamental topics such as player control, gameplay mechanics, and user interface over a six-week sprint. Career support is also integrated into the curriculum, offering guidance from industry professionals to navigate the job market.
In the final weeks, participants can focus on polishing their projects, including animations, physics, and multiplayer functionality, leading to the creation of a capstone project. This culminating project serves as a showcase for graduation and facilitates career progression post-graduation.
Aspiring developers uncertain about game development can explore our free Unity development one-day taster session. This opportunity allows individuals to experience Unity development firsthand before committing to the full coding bootcamp.
About the Author
James has 8 years with Fortune 200 US firm ITW, experience of managing projects in China, USA, and throughout Europe. James has worked with companies such as Tesco, Vauxhall, ITW, Serco, McDonalds. James has experience in supporting start-up and scale up companies such as Readingmate, Gorilla Juice and Harvest London. James completed his MBA at the University of East Anglia in 2018.
