US virtual content platform Unity, which has been lauded for its virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) content, has released a new beta version to pilot a host of fresh changes aimed at optimising user experiences for developers, along with leaps in productivity and performance.
Unity released its 2021.2 beta cycle, which promise many new features and optimisations for users, the company announced on Monday.
What’s New in the Unity 2021.2 Beta?
Unity has improved quality-of-life features in the 2021.2 release, including Scene View UX updates, which allow artist-driven tools to add overlays and use bespoke floating toolbars.
Custom toolbars now feature scene tools such as move, rotate, and scale, as well as orientation, and search, among other features.
Unity has also launched a beta release of its Apple Silicon Editor, allowing M1 Mac users optimal support on the native Unity Editor, improvements to asset workflows, and a new import activity window to monitor import processes, among others.
Further additions to the beta release include an optimised Scriptable Build Pipeline and improvements to Build Cache performance.
The software’s player code build pipeline for numerous operating systems and platforms, including Android, Windows, macOS, and webGL, have received incremental C# script compilation support.
Other Features and Tools, VR Boost Powered By NVIDIA
The new Unity Beta will also include a High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP) to adjust parameters on Volumetric Clouds to create releastic clouds, as well as offer greater artistic controls.
An NVIDIA Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) has been added to the HDRP tool, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to boost frame rates and resolutions, along with improved virtual reality (VR) framerate performance to lower fatigue and disorientation resulting from low-quality VR framerates.
The upgraded Universal Render Pipeline (URP) offers Scene Debug View Modes aimed at inspecting rendered materials, lighting, and shadows and their performance.
The beta also boosts reflection quality for the URP, and a Deferred Renderer separates scene geometry from lighting calculation, increasing performance dramatically while rendering.
Further Details on the Unity 2021.2 Beta
Developers wishing to test the beta version, which has added roughly 3,000 bug fixes and a further 720 features, can access it at Unity’s download page.
The tech firm has also requested feedback ahead of the 2021.2 release, which will allow a stable build to be released in the near future. People can sign up to Unity Pulse, the company’s user feedback platform, and report bugs to potentially win one of two NIVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 3090 graphics cards.
The news comes as the United Kingdom is set to launch a training programme at the Unity Centre of Excellence at the Home of Skills and Technology’s (HOST) MediaCityUK site in Salford.
The centre selected Simon Benson, Former Director of Immersive Technology Group at Sony, to lead the course aimed at training future generations of VR developers at the top institution.
