Unity Opens Beta for VisionOS Development Platform

Unity announced the beta version of its development platform, PolySpatial, designed to help developers create a 3D experience for Apple’s “spatial computing” platform with the Vision Pro headset.

Familiar Workflows and Challenges

The platform aims to minimize friction during the development process by offering familiar workflows for those who have previously built applications with Unity Engine. However, there are still challenges in building such an app for hardware that promises a paradigm shift in computing, according to Marc Whitten, President of Unity Create.

Unlocking Capabilities in Shared Space

Whitten explains that they had to work from the ground up to enable creators to unlock capabilities, such as having a Unity application exist in a shared space with other applications and integrating with Reality Kit and visionOS. The goal is not just to put Unity on the slate but also inside real space along with other experiences, whether they’re Unity, RealityKit, or other Apple experiences.

Gaming Surprisingly Light in WWDC Keynote

Despite Apple’s push to bring games to iOS and macOS, the WWDC keynote focused more on office and creative workflows, as well as enterprise applications. Nevertheless, gaming has always been an important driver for computing platforms, and it will likely play a role in the success of the Vision Pro.

Excitement and Access to Groundbreaking Features

Mike Rockwell, VP of Vision Products Group, expresses excitement for developers to build apps for Apple Vision Pro, stating that Unity-based apps and games run natively on the device and have access to groundbreaking visionOS features, including low latency pass-through and high-resolution rendering.

Porting Existing Titles and Resource Intensive Development

PolySpatial will be used to port existing titles to the new platform initially. Building new experiences from scratch is resource-intensive. One example is the game “What the Golf?”, which was crowdfunded and launched on Apple Arcade in 2019. The developer, Triband, has already started using PolySpatial to port the title.

Content Race Before Release

Content plays a crucial role in launching a new platform, so there’s a race against time before the Vision Pro’s release early next year. While Unity doesn’t provide a timeframe for the public version of PolySpatial, the limited beta release allows interested developers to create experiences for the hardware.

Beta Testing and Collaboration with Developers

Unity is gradually letting in beta testers who signed up. They prioritize feedback and collaboration with creators at every stage of their creation process. This close cooperation helps identify workflow issues and support problems that need improvement as they scale out beyond the beta phase.