Learn to Build: AR, VR, and Mixed Reality

To bring ideas to life in immersive spaces, creators rely on a mix of powerful platforms and emerging technologies.

If you’re familiar with game engines, the path to AR/VR starts with Unity and Unreal Engine—two of the most widely adopted development environments today. Unity’s “Create With Code” program offers a gentle, hands-on introduction that’s perfect for newcomers stepping into building 3D worlds. Meanwhile, Unity MARS (Mixed and Augmented Reality Studio) simplifies scanning environments and placing virtual content that understands real-world surfaces and lighting. On the other hand, Unreal Engine brings high-end rendering and cinematic visual fidelity to spatial experiences, ideal for creating compelling, photo-realistic scenes. Both engines offer node-based tools, rich asset libraries, and community support—making them go-to choices for developers tackling AR, VR, or mixed reality.

Augmented Reality Frameworks: ARKit and ARCore

When it comes to building mobile AR, Apple and Google have set the standard. Apple’s ARKit, paired with RealityKit, offers powerful tools for tracking, occlusion, and rendering lifelike AR on iPhones and iPads. Developers using this stack can detect surfaces, place realistic shadows, animate virtual objects, and seamlessly blend them into a user’s physical surroundings.

On the other side, Google’s ARCore brings similar capabilities to Android devices, enabling motion tracking, environmental understanding, and light estimation across a broad device ecosystem. Together, ARKit and ARCore make AR development accessible across iOS and Android, supporting experiences from simple filters to spatial mapping and navigation.

Getting Started in AR/VR Development

For beginners, the most important step is to start small. You don’t need a headset or expensive gear right away — a smartphone is enough to begin experimenting with AR. Apple’s ARKit and Google’s ARCore both offer starter templates, and Unity/Unreal have free sample projects you can load and explore.

Other practical tips for newcomers:

  • Use premade assets. Don’t get stuck modeling everything from scratch. Unity’s Asset Store, Sketchfab, and Unreal Marketplace have thousands of free 3D models you can drop into a scene.
  • Prototype quickly. Focus on one simple interaction (like placing an object on a surface or teleporting in VR) rather than trying to build a whole game world from day one.
  • Think spatially. Design isn’t just what’s on the screen — it’s how the user moves, looks, and interacts. Start by sketching your scene on paper from multiple perspectives.
  • Test constantly. What feels intuitive in your head might be disorienting in a headset. Iteration and feedback are key.
  • Join a community. AR/VR development is collaborative by nature. Spaces like Unity’s XR forums, Reddit’s r/augmentedreality, and Discord developer groups are full of tutorials, support, and inspiration.

Emerging AI Tools in AR/VR

AI is starting to blend seamlessly into the immersive development workflow. Some of the most exciting areas include:

  • AI-powered 3D asset generation. Tools like Luma Labs, Tripo AI, and Kaedim can generate 3D models from text prompts or 2D photos, massively accelerating content creation.
  • Environment scanning & reconstruction. Apps like Polycam and Scaniverse (Niantic) use AI-assisted photogrammetry to turn real-world objects and spaces into 3D assets you can drop into Unity or Unreal.
  • AI-assisted coding. Tools like GitHub Copilot or ChatGPT help developers generate snippets for shaders, input handling, or spatial interactions, reducing the “stuck on syntax” time.
  • Motion & animation. AI is also making it easier to animate characters in VR. Platforms like Plask and Move.ai can create motion capture data from video, no expensive mocap suit required.
  • Voice & NPC behavior. Generative AI is being used to make conversational characters in VR worlds feel more responsive, powered by large language models behind the scenes.

Key Concepts Every Creator Should Know

Immersive development is more than code—it’s a blend of spatial awareness, design thinking, and emerging infrastructure:

Terminology

  • 5G Networks
    5G networks tease us with speeds up to 100x what we are currently experiencing with 4G. This will allow for faster transfer of larger amounts of data. Frequency information. Speed and low latency are essential for smooth AR/VR experiences. 5G networks, combined with edge computing, bring data processing closer to the user—reducing lag and enabling lightweight devices to deliver richer content in real time.
  • EDGE COMPUTING
    Edge computing is a distributed computing paradigm which brings computation and data storage closer to the location where it is needed, to improve response times and save bandwidth.
  • Spatial Computing & Input Devices
    Spatial Computing is the practice of using physical space to send input to and receive output from a computer.” Spatial computing is human interaction with a machine in which the machine retains and manipulates referents to real objects and spaces. Devices are becoming spaces themselves: spatial computing bridges physical movement and digital interaction.
  • OMNIDIRECTIONAL TREADMILLS
    ODTs are designed to work as a game controller, with the advantage that you can walk for real within the game environment in which you are playing
  • Biomimetics & Natural Design
    Biomimicry is the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems.
    Drawing inspiration from nature—known as biomimetic design—helps us create smoother interaction models and visual metaphors that feel intuitive in XR environments.
  • MOORE’S LAW
    Moore’s Law is a computing term which originated around 1970 and states that we can expect the speed and capability of our computers to increase every couple of years, and we will pay less for them.
  • Volume Dimensioning & 3D Cameras
    As content and simulations become more spatially accurate, methods like volume dimensioning and stereo (3D) cameras become crucial for capturing real-world data that powers reconstruction, collision detection, and physics-driven interactions.

Concepts

3D Cameras (aka Stereo Camera)
A type of camera with 2 or more lenses that allows the perception of depth in images to replicate three dimensions as experienced through human binocular vision….a process known as stereo photography. 

Photogrammetry
A process that involves taking dozens or hundreds of still photographs and using software to stitch them together into a 3D Mesh. The software looks for areas of similarity between the photos and then uses parallax, or the relationship between objects in the foreground and the background, to create depth.

Inside-out Tracking.
VR and AR systems need to understand where you are and how you move. Inside-out tracking uses onboard cameras to observe your real-world space—no need for external sensors. Combine that with six degrees of freedom (6DoF), and you get freedom of movement through entire environments—tilt, walk, crouch, and look around naturally. For realistic movement in XR, the device needs to know its position in your environment. There are two ways of doing this. Inside-out tracking, which leverages low res B&W cameras to ‘observe’ the outside environment. Read more here.

Here is a link to a great visual explanation of degrees of freedom in VR

Math Under the Hood: Quaternions & Orientation
To avoid the “gimbal lock” of Euler angles, spatial engines use quaternions, mathematical constructs that let objects rotate smoothly in 3D space. Understanding them—at least at a conceptual level—can help you debug orientation issues in VR and AR.

Quaternions
Here is a link to a great explanation.

3D/VR

Augmented Reality