6 ways to start building for Android XR with Unity 6
Today, Google unveiled Android XR, a new Android platform built for next-generation devices. We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Google to provide experimental platform support for Android XR, including dedicated documentation and optimizations to help you provide comfortable, performant experiences for players and users. For extensive info on all the tools and features we offer for Android XR, visit our docs.
Every Unity developer can start building immersive experiences for the upcoming device right now with our Public Experimental release using Unity 6. Our XR tools such as hand and eye tracking, occlusion, foveated rendering, Composition Layers, and more are designed to help you fully leverage the unique benefits of Android XR so you can hit the ground running. Create something new, or expand your audience by bringing existing apps and games to Android XR.
Porting is especially easy if you’re bringing your games or apps from platforms that embrace OpenXR standards. Don’t believe us? Fan-favorite studios such as Owlchemy Labs and Resolution Games have been working to bring their Made with Unity creations to Android XR with minimal effort. As Andrew Eiche from Owlchemy Labs puts it:
“This is as simple a port as you’re ever going to encounter. Plus, it’s not going to break your four-person studio – or your 400-person studio – to make it happen.”
You can do more than just port content to Android XR with Unity; you can also craft new experiences. For instance, we’re collaborating with 30 Ninjas and Google on a new and innovative immersive film app that will combine AI and XR to redefine the cinematic experience. We can’t wait to see it come to life!
Curious about creating something new for Android XR? Here are six ways to get started:
1. Start your project(s) in Unity 6 and access the Android XR packages here.
2. Adopt open standards like OpenXR and Vulkan.
Use common OpenXR extensions to port your application with ease, and Vulkan as your rendering API to optimize for the best experience on Android XR.
3. Watch the XR Unlocked technical sessions on building for Android XR, and/or apply for hands-on experience.
During XR Unlocked, our experts and leadership spoke to dozens of VR, AR, and mobile developers about building and porting to Android XR. Keep an eye out for the sessions as Google uploads the recordings online.
Want to dive deeper into creating for Android XR? Apply to participate in one of Android XR Developer Bootcamps around the world, where you’ll gain experience developing and testing your apps and games. Platform experts will be there to guide you along the way.
4. Check out what you can build for Android XR using Unity.
- Fully immersive apps: Create truly immersive experiences where players can step into entirely new environments that feel real and engaging. Users can interact with the virtual world as though they’re physically present, enhancing their sense of presence.
- Optimized apps: Take your existing Android mobile apps and incorporate XR elements into them.
For more info on what you can create for Android XR, visit developers.android.com/xr.
5. Stay updated on Android XR milestones in Unity Discussions.
We’ll be announcing every technical Android XR milestone in the Unity Discussions under the Android XR tag, such as today’s Discussions post. Bookmark this tag so you can stay on top of the latest.
6. Familiarize yourself with Unity’s XR tools and resources.
Get comfortable with Unity’s authoring workflows and XR tools, which enable you to add interactions, graphics, passthrough, and more. The XR Interaction Toolkit simplifies interactions such as grabbing objects, interacting with 3D UI, and providing haptic feedback, all while supporting multiple platforms and hardware. AR Foundation offers essential multiplatform tools for handling AR functionalities, reducing the need to rewrite code when porting games and apps to Android XR.
Plus, bookmark these extra resources:
That's all for now. Explore Unity’s XR development homepage to discover all that we offer, including detailed information about our XR partnerships and real-world customer stories.