OpenXR, the cross-platform open standard for virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) development, has become a vital component of the XR industry by providing a unified API that enables developers to create immersive experiences across various platforms and devices. By eliminating the need for multiple proprietary APIs, OpenXR simplifies development processes and broadens the scope for creating diverse XR applications.

The Godot Engine is undergoing exciting updates as part of a Khronos-sponsored project to accelerate the integration of OpenXR functionality, marking a significant advancement in democratizing OpenXR™ development through open-source engines and tools. 

In this blog post, we'll delve into how feature enhancements to Godot's open source engine are being made possible through the support of the Khronos OpenXR Working Group and the collaborative efforts of the open-source community. 

The Godot XR Initiative

The Godot Engine is a non-profit, open-source game engine that has been built by a diverse community of contributors. Supported by community donations, both volunteer contributors and a small team of part- and full-time developers continuously enhance the engine. 

The team at Godot is working on a Godot OpenXR interface that enables the Godot Engine to integrate seamlessly with diverse OpenXR runtimes, enabling the accelerated creation of cross-platform XR games and applications that use Godot’s full capabilities. 

The OpenXR Working Group at Khronos has funded a project to accelerate these feature upgrades for the Godot Engine, focusing on improving Godot's capabilities for supporting XR displays and companion devices while also enhancing key features that are vital for OpenXR developers and implementers.

Godot as a OpenXR Testbed 

The Godot project team is actively working on integrating new OpenXR extensions into the engine, further expanding Godot’s functionality and offering developers more tools to create immersive XR experiences. Godot serves as a valuable testbed for new OpenXR features and extensions, allowing them to be thoroughly validated by the OpenXR Working Group before being publicly released. By using Godot as a testing platform, developers can experiment with and refine new APIs, ensuring they work seamlessly within the OpenXR ecosystem.

This approach establishes a direct feedback loop between application developers and OpenXR runtime implementers, facilitating continuous improvement and collaboration, including the OpenXR Advisory Panel consisting of application developers actively involved in shaping the future of the standard.

One such extension was implemented over the past month and provided exactly this feedback loop allowing the Working Group to start the finalization process. We’re looking forward to presenting this work once this extension becomes public.

Enabling OpenXR Developers through Open Source 

As an open-source game engine, Godot provides a practical platform for developers to learn how to use OpenXR in applications and experiment with OpenXR-based applications examples. 

The ongoing cooperation between Godot and the Khronos Group empowers developers by providing open-source, high-quality tools that are freely accessible. Since Godot is MIT-licensed, any advancements made through this collaboration can be integrated into proprietary projects, thereby advancing the XR industry as a whole. The Godot Engine serves as a robust platform for developers to experiment and innovate within the XR space, making it easier for them to explore the potential of immersive technology and contribute to the ever-growing XR ecosystem.

Another key objective of the Godot Integration Project is to enhance developer documentation, including providing comprehensive examples and guidance based on best practices from the OpenXR Working Group. The OpenXR Tutorial, for instance, offers valuable insights into XR development methods using OpenXR directly, while Godot's open-source engine provides practical examples to help developers understand and implement these concepts effectively.

Want more information on Godot Engine? 

On September 12, at the OpenXR Live meetup and mixer, I delivered a presentation on Godot Support for OpenXR: Building the OpenXR Implementation for the Godot Game Engine. The recording from this talk can be found on the Khronos YouTube.

Community Engagement and Feedback is Welcome!

As the project progresses, Godot and the Khronos Group always welcome contributions and ideas from the XR community. We encourage all developers to monitor the Godot engine site and share feedback via the OpenXR Discord channel!