PICO has announced support for OpenXR 1.1, which Khronos Groups believes can reduce fragmentation and simplify advanced XR application development.
Khronos Group is a non-profit consortium powering royalty-free interoperability for VR, AR, ML, 3D graphics, and other technologies.
Open XR 1.1 has already been made available on PICO 4 Ultra with OS 5.12.0. The immersive virtual reality provider said it is also planning to integrate it with the PICO 4 and Neo 3 by June 2025.
PICO introduced the news in a recent press release: “This achievement highlights our commitment to advancing industry standards and delivering seamless interoperability for developers and users.
“Our team proudly contributed to shaping the OpenXR 1.1 specification by collaborating with industry leaders, providing key insights, and actively participating in the development process.
“Together, we are pushing the boundaries of innovation and ensuring a more unified and accessible extended reality (XR) ecosystem.”
OpenXR Dev Resources
PICO also offered a few insights into the potential uses of OpenXR, as well as some useful resources.
Simply put, by implemented OpenXR, developers are able to run their OpenXR applications with the latest 1.1 features.
In order to access the OpenXR 1.1 specification, you can either go to the Khronos website or the GitHub OpenXR Registry.
PICO also points users to an official OpenXR Tutorial, a step-by-step guide on YouTube for how to write an XR app with the OpenXR SDK and deploy it on an XR headset.
PICO’s OpenXR SDK is located in the download section of its developer website.
For more information and to get involved in the conversation, it recommends heading to its Twitter page or joining its Discord developer community.
Khronos Group quoted Ron Bessems, OpenXR Working Group Chair and Software Engineer at Meta, who shared his perspective on the importance of OpenXR: “The OpenXR specification is a crucial part of the Mixed Reality ecosystem.
“Where previously application developers had to develop for each XR headset separately using proprietary APIs, they now have the freedom to develop for many different devices at once.
‘With OpenXR, applications can be quickly retargeted to new platforms, or even run on new platforms unmodified.
‘This lowers the cost of entry and unlocks the door to bringing in the new developers and ideas that will help make Mixed Reality a common part of our lives “
OpenXR 1.1 Update
In April this year, Khronos updated its OpenXR API to optimise its support of cross-platform AR/VR/MR application development with its version 1.1.
The move consolidates multiple extensions into the OpenXR API, streamlining application development cycles – namely multiple vendor-specific extensions to reduce the different coding frameworks behind its support end devices.
The OpenXR API is a core piece behind many XR headsets from vendors such as Acer, ByteDance, Canon, HTC, Magic Leap, Meta, Microsoft, Sony, XREAL, Qualcomm, Valve, and Varjo.
Last year, real-time 3D (RT3D) development solutions provider Unity introduced its Meta OpenXR package, which supports Quest 3 application development with support from integrated frameworks.
The firm is leveraging pre-existing OpenXR and AR Foundation initiatives to secure its developer toolset with flexible Meta Quest 3 application creation services.
