Unity, a leading name in cross-platform game development, recently unveiled Unity 6, the latest version of its comprehensive tools suite, at the Unite developer conference in Amsterdam.
This significant upgrade, set for release in 2024, introduces a range of advanced features including AI-enhanced character and scene creation, WebGPU support, and enhanced XR (extended reality) headset compatibility, notably with the anticipated Apple Vision Pro.
Unity 6’s standout feature is its AI capabilities, which simplify the development of complex 3D games and applications across various platforms such as iOS, macOS, tvOS, Android, and web. These AI tools, including Unity Muse and Unity Sentis, offer generative AI for sprites, textures, and game characters with built-in AI responses. Unity Behavior, another novel feature, allows developers to generate character behavior through simple word prompts.
In the realm of graphics, Unity 6 introduces Adaptive Probe Volumes and Universal Pipeline Rendering for superior 3D game lighting. It also enhances performance with Spatial-Temporal Post-Processing, GPU Occlusion Culling, and GPU Resident Drawer, with Occlusion Culling being a key factor in accelerating rendering by eliminating unseen mesh parts.
The software’s WebGPU support is noteworthy, as it aligns with the new open graphics standard by the W3C consortium, promising a unified graphics interface across mobile devices. This standard will also enable 3D rendering across all web browsers, irrespective of the system.
Unity Cloud, Unity’s collaborative platform, is also getting an upgrade, improving its dashboard, team administration, asset manager, and DevOps tools. Although currently in early access for registered subscribers, it signifies Unity’s commitment to streamlined development processes.
Unity’s partnerships with tech giants Apple and Meta mark a significant stride in the development of tools for Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest and Smart Glasses XR headsets. Susan Prescott, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide Developer Relations, expressed excitement at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) about bringing Unity-based games and apps to Vision Pro with full access to visionOS features.
Unity 6 not only promises to facilitate the porting of existing Unity games to Apple Vision Pro, but also represents a leap in game development technology, albeit with its release date still under wraps.