OpenXR 1.0 specification released, Microsoft will soon demonstrate OpenXR-based apps

Back in 2017, Microsoft joined the Khronos Group, the creator of OpenXR, a standard designed to improve interoperability between the various applications and hardware interfaces used in VR. Early this year, Microsoft released a preview version of OpenXR runtime for Windows Mixed Reality platform based on the OpenXR draft spec. Last week, Microsoft released the first version of OpenXR for Windows Mixed Reality app on the Microsoft Store. After installing this app, Windows Mixed reality users can run OpenXR-based applications. At SIGGRAPH 2019, Microsoft will demonstrate XR applications targeting distinct VR and AR platforms.

The Khronos Group today announced the release of the OpenXR 1.0 specification. The new specification can be found on GitHub.

“The working group is excited to launch the 1.0 version of the OpenXR specification, and the feedback from the community on the provisional specification released in March has been invaluable to getting us to this significant milestone,” said Brent Insko, OpenXR working group chair and lead XR architect at Intel. “Our work continues as we now finalize a comprehensive test suite, integrate key game engine support, and plan the next set of features to evolve a truly vibrant, cross-platform standard for XR platforms and devices. Now is the time for software developers to start putting OpenXR to work.”

“The mobile era of computing was defined and ultimately constrained by closed ecosystems. With mixed reality, the next wave of computing must be and will be open,” said Don Box, Technical Fellow at Microsoft. “Today, Microsoft is proud to release the first OpenXR 1.0 runtime that supports mixed reality, for all Windows Mixed Reality and HoloLens 2 users. We are excited to now work with the OpenXR community to design the key extensions that will bring mixed reality to life, with full support by end of year for HoloLens 2 hand tracking, eye tracking, spatial mapping and spatial anchors.”

OpenXR is the only open standard that provides high-performance, cross-platform access to both VR and AR platforms and devices. With support from several industry leaders, it could become the de facto standard soon.

Source: Microsoft