Microsoft HoloLens adds Unity support

Unity developers will be able to create games and applications for Microsoft’s HoloLens technology, thanks to a partnership between the two firms.

Announced during Microsoft’s keynote at San Francisco’s Build conference and later detailed on Unity’s blog, the “strategic collaboration” will see tools for the new augmented reality device added to both versions of Unity 5 for free.

Revealed earlier this year, HoloLens uses augmented reality to render high quality holograms within real-world environments. It will be powered by upcoming OS Windows 10.

“The Unity toolchain and pipeline are being augmented to leverage the unique characteristics of the HoloLens, such as spatial mapping spatial audio, gaze, gesture, voice recognition and the ability to anchor holographic objects to specific locations in the real world,” wrote Unity’s lead developer Scott Flynn.

“This ensure full integration for a seamless and efficient development experience that takes full advantage of the unique features and capabilities of Microsoft HoloLens. And, of course, Unity for HoloLens tools will be included with Unity Pro and Unity Personal Edition with no additional cost.”

Microsoft is running training sessions – named the Unity for HoloLens ‘Holographic Academy’ – at the Build conference, which will use a very early alpha version of Unity’s HoloLens tools.

Unity stresses that the tools are “still very early in development”.

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