In Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality News
March 3, 2021 – Varjo, a provider of high-performance XR/VR hardware and software, has announced that it is now a Unity Verified Solution Partner – the first official XR/VR hardware provider to join this exclusive program according to the company. Unity is a leading platform for creating and operating interactive, real-time 3D content and is used by many including game developers to artists, architects, automotive designers, filmmakers, and more. The partnership between Varjo and Unity will now enable more professionals to build photorealistic 3D experiences.
As a Unity Verified Solution Partner, all Varjo headsets – including the newly released Varjo XR-3 and VR-3 – now have complete, verified and seamless compatibility with the latest Unity releases. Unity developers can now take full advantage of Varjo’s virtual reality (VR) and extended reality (XR) capabilities such as human-eye resolution visual fidelity (at over 70 pixels per degree), photorealistic video pass-through mixed reality, real-time chroma keying, and more.
“Varjo is constantly pushing the bounds of what is possible for high-fidelity immersive experiences,” said Timoni West, Vice President, Augmented & Virtual Reality at Unity. “Unity developers can now be sure their high-resolution, detailed environments and experiences will display beautifully on Varjo devices, and trust that their applications will work seamlessly with these groundbreaking headsets.”
With this formalized collaboration between Unity and Varjo, it is now easy for developers to create real-time 3D mixed reality content for Varjo hardware. Thanks to its low-latency video pass-through, the Varjo XR-3 device is capable of portraying all aspects of XR, from virtual reality to photorealistic augmented and mixed reality, and offering combined AR/VR support in Unity.
“Together, Unity and Varjo are powering the creation of immersive experiences that appear as real as the world we live in,” said Marcus Olsson, Head of Software Partnerships at Varjo. “We’re confident that our partnership can help drive a paradigm mindset shift from developing real-time 3D content, towards building true extended reality experiences where users can no longer tell the difference between what is real and what is virtual.”
In 2019, Varjo and Volvo Cars utilized Unity to develop a pass-through video viewing solution, enabling users to see what is going on in the outside world whilst wearing an enclosed headset. Combining the capabilities of Varjo’s technology with Volvo’s models and Unity’s photorealistic graphics, Volvo developers are now able to perform design-studies of future vehicle models before they are even built by adding photorealistic virtual elements to the interior of a physical vehicle.
“Through our combined use of Varjo’s mixed reality headsets and the unique power of Unity’s real-time 3D engine, we are pioneering automotive design work,” said Christian Braun, Vice President of Visual Art Design at Volvo. “The immersive experiences we are able to create are so realistic that we can now accurately explore and test new design possibilities for aesthetics and safety that weren’t possible until now. Not only are these advanced technologies enhancing and streamlining our entire design process from start to finish, but Varjo and Unity are also getting us closer to realizing our dream for the future of creativity.”
Varjo stated that as a Unity Verified Solution Partner, it will continue to work with Unity to make it easier for enterprises to develop compelling immersive solutions. As a result, Varjo is inviting all Unity developers, enterprise integrators and software providers to join its Software Partner Program. By applying to the program, Unity developers can unlock significant discounts and benefits on Varjo’s devices, with the company adding that qualified Unity developers may even receive a free Varjo device to kickstart developing their photorealistic VR/XR experiences.
For more information and to apply, please click here.
Image / video credit: Varjo / Vimeo
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About the author
Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.