Apple’s recent WWDC 2024 event unveiled visionOS 2, an update arriving later this year, bringing a significant addition to the Vision Pro experience: WebXR support. This means users can now access VR games directly within the Safari browser on the Vision Pro. WebXR, a well-established cross-platform technology, empowers developers to build immersive and mixed reality apps through websites. Popular frameworks like Three.js, Babylon.js, PlayCanvas, Wonderland, and A-Frame are readily available for developers.
Previously, while WebXR could be enabled in earlier versions of visionOS, it wasn’t the default, indicating limited support. This update signals a significant shift, suggesting that most WebXR apps should now function seamlessly on the Vision Pro. To illustrate the new capabilities, Apple showcased a chess app in a developer video. The app utilized a local file connection, simulating a website for testing and debugging purposes prior to online publishing. According to RoadToVR, Apple’s implementation currently only supports immersive apps, with mixed reality support potentially arriving in the general release.
The demo presented a typical VR experience: users navigate to the WebXR website, select a button to enter VR, and are greeted with an immersive scene. The chessboard is ready for gameplay, with interaction mirroring other visionOS apps. Users can look at a chess piece, pinch to grab it, and move it. The computer opponent then makes its move, continuing the cycle. An ‘End VR’ button allows users to exit the immersive view. The abundance of WebXR apps, readily available on platforms like itch.io, ensures a growing library of VR experiences on the Vision Pro.
The visionOS 2 update extends its support further, incorporating gamepad and voice input into WebXR. This gives developers a wider range of input options to work with. While the Vision Pro app library is expanding, it still lags behind the vast VR and mixed reality game selection available for the Meta Quest 3. RoadToVR highlighted MoonRider, a Beat Saber-like rhythm game, as an example of available content. Sites like itch.io offer a rich selection of games, and users can also utilize Bluetooth keyboards for games relying on traditional WASD controls.
