At WWDC25 we launched a new type of Lab event for the developer community - Group Labs. A Group Lab is a panel Q&A designed for a large audience of developers. Group Labs are a unique opportunity for the community to submit questions directly to a panel of Apple engineers and designers. Here are the highlights from the WWDC25 Group Lab for visionOS. I saw that there is a new way to add SwiftUI View attachments in my RealityView, what advantages does this have over the old way? Attachments can now be added directly to your entities with ViewAttachmentComponent. The removes the need to declare your attachments upfront in your RealityView initializer and then add those attachments as child entities. The new approach provides greater flexibility. Canyon Crosser and Petite Asteroids both utilize the new approach. ManipulationComponent looks really cool! Right now my app has a series of complicated custom gestures. What gestures does it handle for me exactly, and are there any situations where I should prefer my own custom gestures? ManipulationComponent provides natural interaction with virtual objects. It seamlessly handles translation and rotation. You can easily add manipulation to a SwiftUI view like Model3D with the manipulable view modifier. The new Object Manipulation API is great for most apps, and is a breeze to implement, but sometimes you might want a more custom feel, and that’s ok! Custom gestures are still fully supported for that scenario. I saw that there is a new API to also access the right main camera. What can I do with this? Correct, in visionOS 26, you can access the left and right main cameras. You can even access them simultaneously as a stereo pair. Camera access still requires a managed entitlement and an enterprise license, see Accessing the main camera for more details about those requirements. More computer vision and machine learning use-cases are unlocked with access to both cameras, we are excited to see what you will do! What do I need to do to add spatial accessory input for my app? First, use the GameController framework to establish a connection with the spatial accessory, and then listen for events from the controller. Then, you can use either RealityKit, ARKit, or a combination of both to track the accessory, anchor virtual content to it, and fine tune the accessory interaction with the content in your app. For more details, check out Discovering and tracking spatial game controllers and styli. By far, the most difficulty with implementing visionOS apps is SwiftUI window management…placing, opening, closing, etc. Are there any improvements to window management in visionOS 26? Yes! We recommend watching Set the scene with SwiftUI in visionOS. You can use the defaultLaunchBehavior to choose whether a particular window is presented (or suppressed) at launch. You can also prevent a window like a secondary toolbar from launching as the initial window using .restorationBehavior(.disabled). Adopting best practices for persistent UI provides a great overview of SwiftUI window management on visionOS. As for placing windows, there is still no API for an app to specify the placement of its windows other than relative placement. If that is a feature you are interested in, please file an enhancement request for it using Feedback Assistant! How to get access to the Enterprise API? First, request the entitlement and license through your Apple Developer or enterprise account. Once these have been granted, include the license and entitlement in your project. Then you can build, test, and distribute as an in-house app.

In several visionOS apps, we readjust our scenes to the user's eye level (their heads). But, we have encountered issues whereby the WorldTrackingProvider returns bad/incorrect positions for the first x number of frames. See below code which you can copy paste in any Immersive Space. Relaunch the space and observe the numberOfBadWorldInfos value is inconsistent. a. what is the most reliable way to get the devices's position? b. is this indeed a bug? c. are we using worldInfo improperly? d. as a workaround, in our apps we set to 10 the number of frames to let pass before using worldInfo, should we set our threshold differently? import ARKit import Combine import OSLog import SwiftUI import RealityKit import RealityKitContent let SUBSYSTEM = Bundle.main.bundleIdentifier! struct ImmersiveView: View { let logger = Logger(subsystem: SUBSYSTEM, category: "ImmersiveView") let session = ARKitSession() let worldInfo = WorldTrackingProvider() @State var sceneUpdateSubscription: EventSubscription? = nil @State var deviceTransform: simd_float4x4? = nil @State var numberOfBadWorldInfos = 0 @State var isBadWorldInfoLoged = false var body: some View { RealityView { content in try? await session.run([worldInfo]) sceneUpdateSubscription = content.subscribe(to: SceneEvents.Update.self) { event in guard let pose = worldInfo.queryDeviceAnchor(atTimestamp: CACurrentMediaTime()) else { return } // `worldInfo` does not return correct values for the first few frames (exact number of frames is unknown) // - known SO: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/78396187/how-to-determine-the-first-reliable-position-of-the-apple-vision-pro-device deviceTransform = pose.originFromAnchorTransform if deviceTransform!.columns.3.y < 1.6 { numberOfBadWorldInfos += 1 logger.warning("\(#function) \(#line) deviceTransform.columns.3.y \(deviceTransform!.columns.3.y), numberOfBadWorldInfos \(numberOfBadWorldInfos)") } else { if !isBadWorldInfoLoged { logger.info("\(#function) \(#line) deviceTransform.columns.3.y \(deviceTransform!.columns.3.y), numberOfBadWorldInfos \(numberOfBadWorldInfos)") } isBadWorldInfoLoged = true // stop logging. } } } } }

is it possible to dynamically update ModelPositionOffset of GeometryModifier with a depth map image? in my code I set up the parameter for "DepthMapTexture" universal input node and tried setting the depth map for depthTextureResource. I have 2 DrawableQueues. One for setting InputTexture, and one for setting DepthMapTexture. This only shows the part that concerns setting DepthMapTexture this is where I define the plane entity. and this is the shader graph what I noticed with GeometryModifier is that, the depthMap image has to be same as input image's dimensions. and when I applied this material to usdz file, with pre-assigned image and depth map from RCP, and loaded that Entity from code, depth map was applied correctly. what I am unsure is that if it is impossible to define a model entity from code, apply ShaderGraphMaterial from RCP, and dynamically update the image used in GeometryModifier. Maybe I'm missing something when defining Entity, something that allows geometric modifications?

I have two RealityView: ParentView and When click the button in ParentView, ChildView will be shown as full screen cover, but the camera feed in ChildView will not be shown, only black screen. If I show ChildView directly, it works with camera feed. Please help me on this issue? Thanks. import RealityKit import SwiftUI struct ParentView: View{ @State private var showIt = false var body: some View{ ZStack{ RealityView{content in content.camera = .virtual let box = ModelEntity(mesh: MeshResource.generateSphere(radius: 0.2),materials: [createSimpleMaterial(color: .red)]) content.add(box) } Button("Click here"){ showIt = true } } .fullScreenCover(isPresented: $showIt){ ChildView() .overlay( Button("Close"){ showIt = false }.padding(20), alignment: .bottomLeading ) } .ignoresSafeArea(.all) } } import ARKit import RealityKit import SwiftUI struct ChildView: View{ var body: some View{ RealityView{content in content.camera = .spatialTracking } } }

My development team admin requested the Enterprise API for camera access on the vision pro. We got that granted, got a license for usage, and got instructions for integrating it with next steps. We did the following: Even when I try to download and run the sample project for "Accessing the Main Camera", and follow all the exact instructions mentioned here: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/visionos/accessing-the-main-camera I am just unable to receive camera frames. I added the capabilities, created a new provisioning profile with this access, added the entitlements to info.plist and entitlements, replaced the dummy license file with the one we were sent, and also have a matching bundle identifier and development certificate, but it is still not showing camera access for some reason. "Main Camera Access" shows up in our Signing & Capabilities tab, and we also added the NSMainCameraDescription in the Info.plist and allow access while opening the app. None of this works. Not on my app, and not on the sample app that I just downloaded and tried to run on the Vision Pro after replacing the dummy license file.

The initial startup of visionOS 26 after install is glacially slow.

https://developer.apple.com/cn/augmented-reality/tools/. Why is this address missing? Reality Converter, what should we use now to convert the model

We are building an AR experience for deployment on iphones. We are using Unity but it looks as if Reality Composer Pro has better features for spatial audio. I am not sure if Reality Composer Pro can only be used for Vision Pro or can it also be used for deployment on Iphone or ipad.

Apple's WWDC video What’s new for the spatial web says the spatial-backdrop markup may change as it goes through the standards process (at 27:26 mark). I have started adding spatial-backdrops to web pages, so I want to keep an eye out for status updates by Apple and follow the standards progress. Is there any place I can keep an eye on this standards process? Has Apple announced any feature updates or news on spatial-backdrops?

When building a multiplayer Tabletop game, the documentation includes how to attach a custom TabletopNetworkSessionCoordinator, which could be used in addition to TabletopGame.MultiplayerDelegate. But so far, we have been unable to create these types of custom coordinators or have a delegate that works. Our current setup with our generic GroupActivity works by sending the session to TabletopGame's coordinateWithSession method (like in the current sample project), but we didn't find a way to access and control, for example, the arbiter, seats, player events, among other features mentioned on https://developer.apple.com/documentation/tabletopkit/tabletopnetworksession. Is correct to expect having access to the participants, messenger, or journal without having to maintain a parallel coordinator?   possibly we are missing something here; any suggestions?

Summary After updating to visionOS 26, we’ve encountered severe transparency rendering issues in RealityKit that did not exist in visionOS 2.6 and earlier. These regressions affect applications that dynamically control scene opacity (via OpacityComponent). Our app renders ultra-realistic apartment environments in real time, where users can walk or teleport inside 3D spaces. When the user moves above a speed threshold, we apply a global transparency effect to prevent physical collisions with real-world objects. Everything worked perfectly in visionOS 2.6 — the problems appeared only after upgrading to 26. Scene Setup Overview The environment consists of multiple USDZ models (e.g., architecture, rooms, furniture). We manage LODs manually for performance (e.g., walls and floors always visible in full-res, while rooms swap between low/high-res versions based on user position and field of view). Transparency is achieved using OpacityComponent, applied dynamically when the user moves. Some meshes (e.g., portals to skyboxes, glass windows) use alpha materials We also use OcclusionMaterials to prevent things to be seen through walls when scene is transparent Observed Behavior by Scenario (I can share a video showing the results of each scenario if needed.) Scenario 1 — Severe Flickering (Root Opacity) Setup: OpacityComponent applied to the root entity NO ModelSortGroupComponent used Symptoms: Strong flickering when transparency is active Triangles within the same mesh render at inconsistent opacity levels Appears as if per-triangle alpha sorting is broken Workaround: Moving the OpacityComponent from the root to each individual USDZ entity removes the per-triangle flicker Pros: No conflicts with portals or alpha materials Scenario 2 — Partially Stable, But Alpha Conflicts Setup: OpacityComponent applied per USDZ entity ModelSortGroupComponent(planarUIAlwaysBehind) applied to portal meshes Other entities have NO ModelSortGroupComponent Symptoms: Frequent alpha blending conflicts: Transparent surfaces behind other transparent surfaces flicker or disappear Example: Wine glasses behind glass doors — sometimes neither is rendered, or only one Even opaque meshes behind glass flicker due to depth buffer confusion Alpha materials sometimes render portals or the real world behind them, ignoring other geometry entirely Analysis: Appears related to internal changes in alpha sorting or depth pre-pass behavior introduced in visionOS 26 Pros: Most stable setup so far Cons: Still unreliable when OpacityComponent is active Scenario 3 — Layer Separation Attempt (Regression) Setup: Same as Scenario 2, but: Entities with alpha materials moved to separate USDZs Explicit ModelSortGroupComponent order set (alpha surfaces rendered last) Symptoms: Transparent surfaces behind other transparent surfaces flicker or disappear Depth is completely broken when there's a large transparent surface Alpha materials sometimes render portals or the real world behind them, ignoring other geometry entirely Workaround Attempt: Re-ordering and further separating models did not solve it Pros: None — this setup makes transparency unusable Conclusion There appears to be a regression in RealityKit’s handling of transparency and sorting in visionOS 26, particularly when: OpacityComponent is applied dynamically, and Scenes rely on multiple overlapping transparent materials. These issues did not exist prior to 26, and the same project (no code changes) behaves correctly on previous versions. Request We’d appreciate any insight or confirmation from Apple engineers regarding: Whether alpha sorting or opacity blending behavior changed in visionOS 26 If there are new recommended practices for combining OpacityComponent with transparent materials If a bug report already exists for this regression Thanks in advance!

Since only the user can take a screenshot using the Apple Vision Pro's top buttons, the only workaround available to an immersive app that needs a screenshot to document the user's creative interior design choices is ask the user to take a screenshot wait until the user taps a button indicating the screenshot has been taken then the app asks the user to select the screenshot when the app opens the PhotoPicker when the user presses Done, the screenshot is handed off to the app. One wonders why there is no Apple Api for doing this in a simple privacy protective way such as: When called, the Apple api captures the screenshot in Apple secured memory The api displays the screenshot to the user with appropriate privacy warnings and asks if the user wants to a. share this screenshot with the app, or b. cancel, c. retake the screenshot If the user approves, the app receives the screenshot

Hi, When viewing a spatial photo scene on the Apple Vision Pro Photos app, you can tap on the immersive icon on the top right corner to transaction from the window presenting the image as spatial3d to an immersive photo scene with spatial3DImmersive where the window borders disappear. Could someone explain how to achieve that? I tried to do it but once I transition from spatial3d to spatial3DImmersive I can see still see a rectangle around the spatial image. Thanks.

I have been trying to implement this look where a component looks "pushed in" but I could not find any resources regarding this effect. The closest I got was a combination of a RoundedRectangle and .glassBackgroundEffect(), but this makes the view look pushed out, instead of pushed in. I was wondering if this is achievable in SwiftUI level, or even in UIKit level.

I'm currently implementing 180° / 360° immersive video for my app. I easily implemented 360° by just applying VideoMaterial to flipped sphere. But I'm stuck at 180°. I'm trying to implement by applying VideoMaterial to hemisphere (half sphere). I want to make VideoMaterial to be visible half front sphere and half back sphere transparent / clear. Would there be any advice / information / idea to implement this? Your help would be grateful.

I would like to know if there have been any updates that improved the image tracking speed. I submitted feedback a while ago, mentioning that the image tracking rate was only one frame per second on Vision Pro. Thank you very much. FB15688516 and FB16745373is feedback we previously submitted, but we have not received any response yet.

Hi, I'm currently implementing 180° / 360° property for immersive video in my app. I was able to implement 360° easily by just giving VideoMaterial to flipped sphere. However, I'm bit stuck at 180°. I want to implement by setting VideoMaterial to hemisphere mesh. But since RealityKit doesn't provide default function such like MeshResource.generateHemisphere yet, I just want to apply VideoMaterial half front visible, and half back transparent. I thought this would make my sphere looks like hemisphere. But I can't find my way to implement this method.. I would appreciate any advice / idea / information that might help.

I am still not finding resources to know how to replace hands in a full immersive Space.... I reached the goal by creating a ARKit session that can detect the USDZ hand mesh Joints and connect to the hand-tracked-joints.... but I feel that's not the best solution... I really want to use the RealityKit potential to track and replace hands (with USDZ skinned ones) in an immersive environment, but the only resources I found are from November 2023.... :( Can someone help me?

As far as I know, Apple hasn’t opened access to the Vision Pro camera for developers yet, so I’m trying to find possible workarounds within the current capabilities. I’m wondering if there’s any way to apply a mesh to a person in the scene in Vision Pro, or if there’s an alternative approach to roughly detect a human shape in front of the user?

Hi everyone, We’re developing a Unity project for Apple Vision Pro that connects PSVR2 Sense controllers for advanced interaction and input. We’ve encountered a major limitation: when the controller is not held close to the designated hand (e.g., resting on a table or held by the non designated hand), the Sense controller enters a low-power or reduced-update mode. This results in noticeably reduced tracking update frequency and responsiveness until the controller is held again. For certain use cases, this behavior is undesirable. In our case, it prevents continuous real-time tracking of the controller even when it’s stationary or being tracked externally. Request: Please consider exposing an API flag or developer option in ARKit to disable and optionally delay the low-power mode when the app requires full-rate updates regardless of proximity or hand pose detection.