Whatever the industry you are building a business in, developing a VR application is a crucial stage of growth and a challenging task not only to perform but also to manage appropriately. It takes deep expertise in the technology, its particularities, and strengths to get the most out of this solution. Having this knowledge is also an excellent base for picking the right platform for effective development, which usually appears to be the Unity engine.
Hence, this article aims to provide you with all the fundamental principles of effective Unity mobile VR development, the benefits this decision brings to its followers, and other helpful insights. Additionally, you will learn how an experienced VR app development company can make this project effortless for you.
So, let’s go with why companies choose mobile VR app development with Unity to define if this path suits your mission.
Top 7 Benefits of Using Unity to Build Mobile VR Apps
In case you don’t know much about Unity's capabilities in terms of building an application based on virtual reality technology, you are welcome to take a look at 7 amazing facts about the use of Unity for VR mobile app development to fill your cup.
Developer-friendly platform. Using C# as the main programming language makes Unity a perfect fit for mobile app development, as it’s widely used for such projects. In addition, the engine provides dozens of helpful tool sets and SDKs that make the development more stable and accurate.
Decent quality. Even though the C# programming language isn’t designed for too complex and extraordinary development, it’s perfectly enough to create an outstanding mobile app. Besides, since Unity is a professional platform for content creation, it provides extended capabilities to make your visuals stunning.
Cross-platform development. In case you need an app for both iOS- and Android-based mobile devices, Unity allows you to build the solution once and deploy it across these platforms.
All-in-one solution. Choosing Unity for mobile VR app development allows you to perform all the essential processes in a single software. Here, you can create 2D/3D content, VFX (visual effects), animate it all, as well as write code, and test an application with in-editor capabilities.
Out-of-the-box VR support. Unity is full of various resources designed to simplify the VR development experience. The HD render pipeline, XR interaction toolkit, spatial audio capabilities, and the like allow the creation of an ultimate virtual reality experience for any purpose.
Robust asset store. In order to save time without compromising the quality, the Unity asset store provides its users with fully-customizable ready-made content, from 3D models to the entire locations, VFX, and even audio.
Broad documentation base. Unity isn’t the mystic software that requires years of experience till you master it. The platform is full of documentation, guides, and manuals, which are helpful in most development cases. Thus, it reduces the time for specialists browsing the internet looking for clues and basic information.
How to Make a Mobile VR App with Unity
Since Unity provides detailed manuals on the process of VR app development, it won’t be so tough to figure out how to use this software. However, there are specific features in any device that must be considered in the design and workflow structure. So, here we’ll share the particularities of application building for iOS and Android that every top VR development company should know to create a quality product.
Developing a VR App for Android
The two biggest things you must consider before the project starts are the wide variety of Android-based device models and the size of your application.
First of all, since hundreds of smartphone and tablet models are from different brands, your application must meet the technical requirements of each of them. Accordingly, the testing part of the development will be quite challenging and expensive, as it must be done on real devices or, at least, powerful simulators to ensure everything works well during real practice.
Further, the content for a VR mobile app should be of high quality and detail on one side but light enough for a mobile platform to handle it on the other. Thus, it takes developers’ solid skills and the application of complex techniques like retopology to make the content look decent in virtual reality and be the right size for different Android devices.
Developing a VR App for iOS
Similar to mobile VR app development for Android, the projects for iOS-based devices also have to be optimized in order to achieve a satisfactory quality-to-size ratio. Even though the number of iOS devices/models is significantly lower than Android ones, the development of a mobile VR application for the first mentioned platform has particular challenges as well.
For example, Apple devices use the exclusive OS, forming a more closed-off environment. Thus, the AppStore policy has plenty of strict rules and limitations for successfully publishing your product there. The bright side is even though the standardized UI allows fewer customization options, it saves time on app design. So, it’s better to pay special attention to ensure your product meets the specific requirements.
Mobile VR App with Unity: Use Cases
The development of a mobile VR application is handy for plenty of different industries. Let’s explore examples of what processes the VR solution can improve in your field.
Retail
For the last several years, the e-commerce industry has been hitting the ground running in developing new, effective product presentation and distribution methods. The first VR stores appeared right after creating web 3D configurators where users can explore a product in 360-view from the inside and out. So, now clients are able to get an ultimate shopping experience from home.
For example, Magrabi Optical, one of the best-known eyewear companies in the Middle East, presented its VR store, developed by Program-Ace. The mobile VR application on iOS and Android allows users to get a VR tour across the shop reproduced from an actual store in Dubai. In addition, they can explore the wide assortment of glasses and get a consultation from a virtual manager.
Engineering
The ability to design something in a virtual environment brings plenty of benefits, as the application of such a solution is significant. Engineering specialists can develop prototypes for a future project without using and spending money on real-world materials. Such virtual designs are easy to test, edit, as well as present to colleagues and clients.
Additionally, specialists can learn how to deal with complex constructions and details while training in VR. For instance, the VR training software aims to provide specialists with an immersive and safe environment to explore the construction of the engine control unit on navy vessels and related.
Healthcare
Since multiple areas of the real world are moving into a virtual one brick by brick, the healthcare field is no exception. It’s surprising for most people that some kinds of treatment can now be done at home with a VR headset and don’t require hospital attendance.
The example of the hand rehabilitation VR training app illustrates this thesis well. The project performed by Program-Ace allows patients with hand movement issues to get physiotherapy sessions in a virtual environment. Under the surveillance of a virtual instructor, users complete simple steps from the program developed by their doctor and see the evaluation of their progress in real-time. Accordingly, the motivation and progress of patients are growing.
Architecture & Interior Design
Similar to engineering specialists, architects can also create 3D visualizations of future projects in VR for material-free prototyping, easy editing, and illustrative presentation to clients. Interior designers can use this solution as well to create prototypes, present them to clients, and even change colors, furniture, and their placement in real-time. All of these you can do in the VR hotel app, a complex solution that allows users to set up different features of the hotel’s design and conduct an immersive VR tour.
Gaming
VR games are the reason most people know about this technology. Whether it’s an AAA gamer or someone who usually doesn't play games, virtual reality gaming is a unique experience that’s exciting to get to anyone. The immersive 3D environment, the sense of complete presence, and the ability to move all your body while playing as in real life continue to amaze.
In fact, creating a hyperrealistic hardcore game is not so necessary to have a pleasant experience. For example, Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality game is an exciting adventure in a virtual world based on a famous TV show of the same name. Playing as a Morty character, a gamer dives into fun quests and meets new exciting characters.
Unity Vs. Unreal for Mobile VR Development
Unity and Unreal Engine are both popular software for VR-based mobile app development. However, if you want to explore the comparison of Unity vs. UE and understand what’s better for building a mobile VR app, we’ll help you figure it out.
- free until the project makes less than $100k/year;
- $399/year per person until the project makes less than $200k/year;
- $1.8k/year per person for Unity Pro.
- free publishing but 5% charge if a project hits $1m;
- free for non-commercial projects creation;
- $1.5k/year per seat for the enterprise program.
- Supports 28 platforms;
- 31k+ 3D assets alone in Unity asset store.
- Supports over 15 platforms;
- 10k+ assets in the UE asset store.
Choose Effortless VR App Development with Program-Ace
As you may know, VR app development is a challenging process that takes a variety of resources to get done flawlessly. Thus, dealing with it entirely on your own isn’t only tough but not so effective as employing professional support. In most cases, outsourcing crucial parts of a project is a great way to optimize your budget spending and your company's performance.
So, if you are in need of particular specialists or complex assistance, Program-Ace will be there for you. Operating for 30 years as a custom software development company, we’ve gained broad experience delivering AR- and VR-based projects to clients from different industries worldwide. Hence, you can count on our deep expertise, cutting-edge technologies, and highly skilled specialists.
Contact us to discuss the prospects of your project and our future partnership details.
