[kofi]

The landscape of technology is rapidly evolving, and we are standing on the brink of an exciting new era – the age of spatial computing, ushered in by the groundbreaking Apple Vision Pro. This cutting-edge device, equipped with vision OS, is set to redefine the digital experience by blending the physical and digital worlds, thereby taking immersive experiences to an unprecedented level.

In this article, we will delve into what we know so far about the Apple Vision Pro and vision OS, and how you can start preparing yourself for the imminent launch of this innovative platform. We will especially focus on how you can develop apps using Unity, the world’s most popular XR game engine.

XR: The Present and the Future

Extended Reality (XR), an umbrella term encapsulating Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), is no longer a futuristic concept – it’s here, and it’s here to stay. The launch of the Apple Vision Pro is a testament to XR’s growing influence and relevance. Therefore, if you’re keen on being at the forefront of this technological revolution, now is the perfect time to learn XR and start innovating.

The Power of Unity in XR Development

Unity game engine holds a lion’s share of the XR application market, with about 70% of all XR applications made using it. Apple has been collaborating closely with Unity, empowering developers to create apps using Unity Engine and leverage its extensive capabilities. Whether you aspire to be a programmer, UX or sound designer, or a 3D modeler for XR experiences, Unity should be your platform of choice.

As a developer, you can join Unity’s beta program for vision OS and use the Unity Editor to learn about basic concepts of C-sharp coding and game development. This way, you will be well-equipped to ride the wave of XR when the Vision Pro officially launches.

Unity’s XR Development for Vision Pro

At the Worldwide Developer Conference 2023, Apple and Unity demonstrated how to use Unity to develop captivating and immersive experiences for vision OS. They also discussed how to bring existing Unity VR apps and games to this new platform.

Key takeaways from the conference included:

• Unity Polyspatial: This feature allows translation of materials, shaders, mesh renderers, particle effects, and sprites over to vision OS. You can use other familiar tools such as scriptable objects and Monobehaviours just as you would for other Unity games.
• Volume Cameras: There are two types of volume cameras – Bounded and Unbounded. While the bounded volume camera exists in shared space with other apps/games and can be moved but not resized, the unbounded volume camera displays in full space, allowing content to blend fully with Passthrough.
• Interactions: Unity’s new Hand Package allows you to get low-level hand data from devices that support hand tracking, enabling the design of diverse interactions. You can directly touch or interact with objects from a distance, offering a highly interactive user experience.
• Adaptation: Adapting existing interactions to the Vision Pro is straightforward. For example, touch input on your 2D phone screen can be enhanced by adding input colliders to your objects. Unity UI systems can also be brought to the Vision OS platform without issues.
• Unity VR Apps: It’s possible to bring Unity VR apps into a fully immersive space by using the Universal Render Pipeline, which also supports static foveated rendering.

Preparing for the Vision Pro Launch

To be at the forefront when the Vision Pro launches, upgrade your existing projects to Unity 2022 LTS or later. Convert your existing shaders to Unity Shader Graph and adopt the Universal Render Pipeline (URP). Start using the new Unity Input System and get familiar with the Unity XR Interaction Toolkit and Hands Package.

Remember, with the right preparation, you can be one of the pioneers shaping the new wave of immersive experiences on the Vision Pro. So why wait? Start today, and prepare yourself to create the next generation of apps for the Apple Vision Pro.

You can watch all Apple Sessions from WWDC23 here.

To wrap up, the XR industry is flourishing, and the Apple Vision Pro is just around the corner. Gear up by mastering Unity Engine and its new Input System, UI system, Hand Package, and XR Interaction Toolkit. Be ready to ride the wave and lead the charge in this exciting era of technology!

Join the early beta access program at unity.com/spatial and keep a close eye on Apple’s Vision Pro Dev Kit, which opens for registration in July.

We can’t wait to see the innovative applications and experiences you create for the Vision Pro. The future of technology is in your hands!

[kofi]