2024 Unity VR Tutorial (OpenXR and XR Interaction Toolkit) - PART 1 - Project Setup

Summary

This video tutorial guides viewers through setting up a VR project in Unity using the latest LTS version. It covers creating a 3D core project, installing the Universal Render Pipeline (URP), and configuring it with a URP asset. The video also details adding XR packages like XR Plugin Management, XR Interaction Toolkit, and XR Hands, and resolving setup warnings. It includes importing sample assets for better understanding and concludes with enabling hand tracking and testing scenes in Unity. The tutorial sets a foundation for developing VR applications and hints at future lessons on VR character rigs.

Takeaways

• 💻 Install Unity with the latest LTS version for optimal VR project setup.
• 🔨 Create a new 3D core project named 'VR base template' to use as a reusable foundation.
• 🛠️ Set up URP (Universal Render Pipeline) from scratch for versatile and cross-platform rendering capabilities.
• 🔍 Install the XR (Cross-Reality) packages: XR Plugin Management, XR Interaction Toolkit, and XR Hands for a comprehensive VR development environment.
• 🎛️ Configure the XR Plugin Management to install OpenXR and set up interaction profiles for supported controllers.
• 📦 Import XR interaction toolkit samples and XR hands interaction demo for practical examples and reusable components.
• 🖌️ Convert materials from the package to URP-compatible versions to ensure proper rendering.
• 👐 Enable hand tracking and interaction features in Unity's Project Settings to support hand-based interactions.
• 📱 Use Quest Link to connect and test Unity scenes on a Meta Quest 2 headset for real-time VR experience.
• 🚀 Prepare to explore different types of VR characters and rigs in the next tutorial for advanced VR application development.

Q & A

What is the first step to set up a VR project in Unity?

The first step is to ensure Unity is installed on your system, preferably the latest LTS version, and then create a new project.

Why is it recommended to use the latest LTS version of Unity for VR projects?

The latest LTS (Long Term Support) version is recommended because it provides stability and support for a longer period, which is beneficial for long-term VR project development.

What does URP stand for and why is it used in the project?

URP stands for Universal Render Pipeline. It is used because it is versatile and provides cross-platform rendering capabilities, making it suitable for VR projects.

How do you add URP to a Unity project?

You add URP to a Unity project by going to the Package Manager, selecting Unity Registry, searching for 'Universal RP', and then installing it.

What is a URP asset and why is it important?

A URP asset is a file that defines rendering settings for a project, including quality, lighting, shadows, and post-processing. It's important for creating different quality settings for various platforms.

How do you set up the XR (Cross-Reality) packages for a Unity VR project?

You set up the XR packages by going to the Package Manager and installing XR Plugin Management, XR Interaction Toolkit, and XR Hands. After installing, you configure them in the Project Settings.

Why is it necessary to install the XR Interaction Toolkit and XR Hands packages?

These packages provide essential tools and components for creating interactive VR experiences, including hand tracking and controller interactions.

What additional components are needed for hand tracking to work in a Unity VR project?

After importing the XR Hands package, you need to enable the Hand Tracking subsystem and Hand Interaction Poses feature groups in the Project Settings.

How can you fix materials that cannot be rendered by the URP renderer?

You can fix materials that are not compatible with URP by selecting them in the Assets folder and converting them to URP using the 'Edit > Rendering > Materials > Convert Selected Built-in Materials to URP' option.

What is the purpose of importing samples from the XR Interaction Toolkit and XR Hands packages?

Importing samples helps to understand the packages better and provides reusable components for developing VR interactions and hand visualizations.

How do you test a Unity VR scene on a Meta Quest headset?

To test a Unity VR scene on a Meta Quest headset, connect the headset via USB, use Quest Link to connect to the PC, and then enter the VR environment to play the Unity scene.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Setting Up Unity for VR Development

The video script begins with instructions on setting up Unity for a VR project. It emphasizes the importance of installing the latest LTS version of Unity from the official website. Once Unity is installed, the viewer is guided to create a new project named 'VR base template', which will serve as a reusable template for future projects. The project is set up as a 3D core project with URP (Universal Render Pipeline). The script then walks through the process of installing URP from the Unity Registry and creating a URP asset, which is crucial for defining rendering settings in the project. The asset is then applied to the project settings to finalize the basic URP project setup.

05:00

🛠️ Installing XR Packages for VR

The second paragraph focuses on adding XR (Extended Reality) packages necessary for VR development in Unity. It details the process of installing three main packages: XR Plugin Management, XR Interaction Toolkit, and XR Hands. The script explains how to access and install these packages through the Package Manager and Project Settings. After installing the packages, it addresses the need to resolve warnings, particularly setting up interaction profiles for the controllers that will be used for testing. The viewer is shown how to add Oculus Touch Controller, Meta Quest Touch Pro Controller, and Hand Interaction profiles. The paragraph concludes with the installation of additional XR packages and the import of sample assets to facilitate understanding and reuse of components.

10:06

🖐️ Importing and Testing VR Interaction Samples

This paragraph delves into importing and testing VR interaction samples within Unity. It covers the process of importing the Hand Visualizer sample and the Hands Interaction Demo from the XR Hands package and the XR Interaction Toolkit, respectively. The script highlights the need to fix materials that are not compatible with URP by converting them. It also emphasizes the critical step of enabling the Hand Tracking subsystem and Hand Interaction poses feature groups in the Project Settings to ensure hand tracking functionality. The viewer is guided through testing the scenes in Unity, including the Hand Visualizer scene and the Hands Demo scene, to verify the interactions and setup.

15:10

🚀 Preparing for VR Application Development

The final paragraph of the script sets the stage for the next phase of VR application development. It mentions an upcoming video that will explore different types of VR characters or rigs available through the Open XR package and how to set up a fully functional character from scratch. The script concludes with a call to action for viewers to like, subscribe, and share the video, and to leave comments with any questions. It provides a summary of the progress made so far, with the base project now ready for further development.

Keywords

💡Unity

Unity is a powerful game engine used for creating 2D, 3D, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) games and experiences. In the video, Unity is the primary software used to set up a VR project, highlighting its capability to handle complex rendering tasks and serve as a platform for VR development.

💡LTS (Long Term Support)

LTS refers to a version of software that receives updates and support for an extended period, ensuring stability and compatibility. The video recommends installing the latest LTS version of Unity to ensure that the VR project has the most reliable and up-to-date features available.

💡URP (Universal Render Pipeline)

URP is a render pipeline in Unity that provides a versatile and high-performance rendering solution for creating games and applications. The video script mentions installing URP and creating a URP asset, which are essential steps for setting up a VR project with optimized rendering capabilities.

💡XR (Extended Reality)

XR is an umbrella term for all real-time immersive technologies, including VR, AR, and mixed reality (MR). The video discusses adding XR packages to the Unity project, indicating the use of XR technologies to enhance the VR experience.

💡XR Plugin Management

XR Plugin Management is a Unity package that simplifies the integration of XR SDKs and plugins. The video script describes installing this package to manage different XR SDKs, which is crucial for supporting various VR hardware in the project.

💡OpenXR

OpenXR is an open standard for accessing AR and VR devices. The video mentions installing OpenXR through the XR Plugin Management, which allows the Unity project to interface with a wide range of VR hardware, ensuring broader compatibility.

💡XR Interaction Toolkit

The XR Interaction Toolkit is a Unity package that provides a set of components and samples for building interactive XR experiences. The video script includes adding this package to the project, which is essential for creating intuitive and engaging VR interactions.

💡XR Hands

XR Hands refers to a Unity package that enables hand tracking and interaction in XR applications. The video script details the installation of this package and the importance of enabling hand tracking features in the project settings, which is key for natural and immersive VR experiences.

💡Materials Conversion

Materials Conversion in Unity involves changing the material settings of objects to be compatible with different rendering pipelines, such as URP. The video script mentions converting materials to URP, which is necessary to ensure that the materials render correctly in the VR project.

💡Hand Visualizer

The Hand Visualizer is a sample from the XR Hands package that demonstrates hand tracking and visualization in Unity. The video script describes importing and testing the Hand Visualizer scene, which is an essential step in verifying the functionality of hand tracking in the VR project.

💡Quest Link

Quest Link is a feature that allows Oculus Quest devices to connect to a PC and run PC VR applications. The video script instructs the viewer to use Quest Link to test the Unity VR project on an Oculus Quest 2 headset, illustrating the practical application of the project setup.

Highlights

Introduction to setting up the first VR project in Unity.

Requirement to have Unity installed with the latest LTS version.

Creating a new project called 'VR base template'.

Explanation of using URP (Universal Render Pipeline) for its versatility and cross-platform capabilities.

Installation of the Universal RP package from Unity Registry.

Creation of a URP Asset for rendering settings.

Adding the URP Asset to the Graphics settings in Project Settings.

Introduction to XR packages necessary for VR development.

Installation of XR Plugin Management and setting up OpenXR.

Resolving warnings by adding interaction profiles for controller support.

Installation of XR Interaction Toolkit for interaction design.

Importing samples for better understanding and reusability of components.

Fixing materials to be compatible with URP by converting them.

Enabling hand tracking subsystem and hand interaction poses feature groups.

Testing the hand visualizer scene and setup for play mode in Unity.

Exploring the XR interaction toolkit scenes for interaction testing.

Teaser for the next video on VR character rigs and setting up a functional character.

Call to action for likes, subscriptions, and sharing the video.

Transcripts

[Music]

so let's get started with setting up the

first VR project in

unity before we start make sure you have

Unity installed on your system uh you

can install it through the website and

follow the

instructions from the website to get set

up once you have it installed and you

have the latest LTS version installed on

your

computer we can start creating the

project it's highly recommended that you

install the latest LTS

version so we click on new

project and then let's call

this

VR base

template we are creating a template now

that you can reuse and create projects

with this as the base so we'll call it

we are base template and set up a 3D

core

project keep in mind that this project

is going to be in urp

but I now going to set up a 3D core

project because I will be showing you

how to set up urp from scratch as

well let's create the

project

project is now set up and uh we will

start by first adding urp to our project

let's go to window package

manager and here in the top

left in the packages drop down we select

Unity

registry which means it will list all

the packages available to us from the

internet you can see the list here and

here in this list we find Universal

render pipeline so you can let's search

for

Universal the package is called

Universal RP and we will now install

it urp has now installed in our

project now the first thing we are going

to do with a urp project is we will have

to create the pipeline asset so the main

reason we are using urp is because it is

the most uh versatile render pipeline

available right now and uh it provides a

lot of crossplatform rendering

capabilities with our

projects so let's click on assets let's

right click in the assets folder and go

down here and find rendering so it's

right click create and we go down to the

rendering section and we select urp

asset with universal

renderer we can give this a name we can

just call this

urp

asset a urp asset is basically a file

that

defines a lot of uh rendering

settings for the project so if I click

on the urp asset on the right here you

will see the different settings that are

available to us we have quality we have

lighting we have the Shadows section and

also the postprocessing

section using these render pipeline

assets we get to create different

quality settings for our project so you

might have seen in most games where you

select the graphics quality low medium

high so we create those settings using

the urp

assets I will make another video

explaining this in detail but for now we

will just use the default

one once the asset is created we go to

edit project settings I'm sorry edit

project settings and then we go

to

Graphics so in the graphics section you

will see that the scriptable render

pipeline settings the pipeline asset is

empty so we click here and we add the

urp asset that we have just

created we have added the render

pipeline asset

now now our basic urp project is

ready we will now start with adding all

the XR packages that we need to make our

first XR Project work

let's go to

window let's go to package

manager let's clear that out and if I

scroll down you will see a few XR

packages here you will see XR plugin

management XR interaction toolkit and XR

hands these are the three main packages

that you will need to set up the base

project so the way we set up XR plug-in

management is let's close the package

manager we go to edit and project

settings

and on the left menu here at the bottom

we have the XR plug-in management

section let me click on that and you

will see the install XR plug-in

management button

here we'll click on

that

once

our project

opens we will

select we will open the project

settings and go to EXA plugin management

and install open open

XR once the open XR packages are

installed you will see a couple of

warnings here which we need to

resolve we will find these in the

project valid validation

section and for now we will be ignoring

the first

warning but if you look at the second

warning it says at least one interaction

profile must be

added please select which controllers

you will be testing against in the

features menu how we do that is we go to

the open XR Tab and you will see the

interaction profile section here and

here we will add the controllers that we

are going to be

using so I have an Oculus Quest 2 with

me or meta Quest

2 we will be adding three main

components and this works the same for

any meta headset that you might

have so I will add initially the Oculus

touch controller

profile I will add the meta Quest touch

Pro Controller

profile I will also add the hand

interaction

profile so these three profiles will

cover all of our use cases while

developing on a meta Quest

headset so now that we have added this

let me just close this and go to the

package manager because now we will be

adding the other XR packages that we

need to set up our base VR

project so in the package manager if you

look at the bottom above XR plug-in

management you have the XR interaction

toolkit so we will be installing

that

once that is

done which is almost about now we will

be adding the XR hands package as

well

so our project now

contains all the base packages needed to

develop full a full-fledged VR

application inside

Unity but to help us a little bit

further let's add some samples of these

packages so it's easier for us to

understand the packages better and also

perhaps reuse a lot of the components

available

there so let me click on XR interaction

toolkit and the samples Tab and we will

import the starter

assets we will also import the hands

interaction demo once this is

installed

we will now go to the XR hands package

and do the same in the sample section we

will import the hand

visualizer

sample and once we have that

imported we should be pretty

much done with all of our Imports for

now so the samples that we just imported

you will find in the sample section

here in the XR hands folder you will

find the hand

visualizer and in the XR interaction

toolkit you will

find the hand interaction demo

and

the XR interaction toolkit demo so this

is the hands interaction demo

here and you might see these materials

here that are a bit messed up which we

will just fix in a

second so and in the XR interaction

toolkit you

have the demo scene of the X our

interaction tool

gate so now you must have noticed that

the materials here are a bit off so if I

go to the hand visualizer scene

especially you will see that the hands

have a pinkish material so this

basically means that the material cannot

be

rendered by the urp renderer because

most of these materials in the package

come as so in order to fix that

it's a very simple solution we go to the

assets

folder next to the search bar you will

find a search by type button let's click

on that and select all the

materials and in this folder you will

see the list of materials that we will

need to convert into urp which can be

identified by this pinkish color that we

see here so let's select all of them and

conver them to

urp so holding control you can multi-

select them and I'll go to

edit rendering materials and con convert

selected built-in materials to

urp so let's do proceed and as soon as I

do that you will see that all the

materials are

fixed there is one very important step

that needs to be done after importing

our hand XR hands package uh without

which the hand tracking will not work

and that is we have to go to

edit we go to Project settings and we

have to enable the hand tracking

subsystem and the Hand interaction

poses feature

groups uh please keep in mind that this

is very important otherwise the hand

tracking will not

work so let me close that

up and now we can start testing our

scenes so let's test out the hand

visualizer scene

first before we enter play mode in unity

uh there is a quick step that we we need

to do in our headset so with the headset

connected over USB we enter the menu and

we select Quest

link once we open Quest link it shows us

the connected uh PC and then we enter

the quest link so this is the

environment that we need to be in in

order to play external applications uh

in this case our Unity

scene

so that is our hand visualizer scene

now we will also go to the samples and

test out the interaction toolkit

scenes so it's called hands demo scene

where we can test out the interactions

of

the hands

package

similarly we can also take a look at the

starter assets of the XR interaction

toolkit and these are all controller

based

interactions

excellent our base project is now ready

and we are ready to start developing VR

applications in the next video we will

take a look at the different types of VR

characters or rigs that are available to

us by the open XR package we will also

learn how to set up a fully functional

character from from scratch by

ourselves if this video helped you out

please don't forget to like And

subscribe for more share this video with

a friend if you think it's going to help

them out if you have any questions drop

them in the comments below and I will

see you in the next

one