Unity’s AI-Powered Tools, Unity 6 Sneak Peek, and Workflow Enhancements

Explore Unity’s groundbreaking AI-driven tools, including Muse and Sentis, enhancing game development.

At its yearly developer gathering, Unite, Unity (NYSE: U), the primary platform for crafting and expanding real-time 3D (RT3D) content, revealed a range of fresh AI innovations and platform enhancements. These advancements aim to better assist game developers in realizing their creative visions and managing successful games.

The unveiled features include early access availability to Unity Muse, a suite incorporating AI-powered tools to streamline content creation. Additionally, a sneak peek at Unity 6, the forthcoming significant software release planned for 2024 (previously known as 2023 LTS), was presented. Also introduced was Unity Cloud, a platform comprising interconnected products and services aiding developers in organizing content across various projects and pipelines.

Unity had previously announced the introduction of AI-driven platforms, Unity Muse and Unity Sentis, in a closed beta phase. Unity Muse has now been launched in early access, offering an expanding set of features simplifying content creation:

• Muse Chat: Allows sourcing answers and resources across Unity, providing usable code.
• Muse Sprite: Generates 2D sprites and multiple variations.
• Muse Texture: Generates high-quality 2D and 3D-ready textures.

The Sprite and Texture features operate on a custom-built deep learning model trained solely on data and images owned or licensed by Unity. This ensures that the datasets do not contain any identifiable individuals, logos, or artistic styles.

Unity Muse is available as a standalone product for $30/month. Subscribers will receive priority access to forthcoming features in pre-release, such as Muse Animate (enabling motion setup for characters without code), Muse Behavior (facilitating character interactions), and Muse Sketch (a 3D canvas for rapid prototyping and team collaboration). More information on Unity Muse can be found at here.

While Unity Muse enhances developers’ workflows, Unity Sentis enables the incorporation of complex AI data models into the Unity Runtime, aiding in solving intricate tasks and introducing new functionality in games through AI models. Currently in open beta, Unity Sentis will be universally available with the launch of Unity 6 in 2024.

Unity 6, slated for release in 2024, aims to offer advanced visuals alongside significant performance enhancements, expedited multiplayer game creation and scaling capabilities, and increased AI support, cutting-edge mobile features, and innovative VR device support. Its goal is to elevate visual quality and efficiently create larger, more immersive worlds. For more details about Unity 6, visit the Unity Blog.

Marc Whitten, President Create at Unity, emphasizes their commitment to aiding developers in crafting exceptional games and achieving success. He highlights the importance of feedback from creators, stating that Unity 6 is geared towards performance and workflow improvements, as well as providing better AI tools for faster development, aiming to be a genuine partner addressing creators’ needs at every stage of game development.

Unity also introduced Unity Cloud, a new suite of interconnected tools supporting collaborative work among developers. It helps organize content across projects and pipelines, simplifying the complexities of the development lifecycle. Currently available in early access, Unity Cloud offers collaboration, asset management, and team administration capabilities. Integrations between Asset Manager, Version Control, and the Unity Editor (or other engines) facilitate smoother content workflows among teams and throughout the development process. Access to Unity Cloud is granted to all Unity Personal, Pro, Enterprise, and Industry subscribers. Learn more at here.

Earlier in the year, Unity announced platform support for Apple Vision Pro at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) through the introduction of PolySpatial. The closed beta phase included participation and feedback from developers across 145 countries. Starting now, Unity is opening its visionOS beta program, including access to Unity PolySpatial, to all Unity Pro, Enterprise, and Industry subscribers*. This enables creators to build a new generation of spatial applications for Apple Vision Pro using Unity’s Editor and Runtime. Find more information at here.

In essence, Unity’s unveiling of AI innovations and platform updates at Unite promises a transformative future for game developers. With the introduction of tools like Unity Muse and Unity Sentis, the upcoming Unity 6 release, and the integration of Unity Cloud, Unity is not just empowering creators; it’s reshaping the landscape of game development. The commitment to user feedback and the emphasis on performance, workflow, and AI tools underscore Unity’s dedication to being a steadfast partner in every stage of game creation. As the industry evolves, Unity stands at the forefront, poised to redefine possibilities and enable developers to craft even more spectacular gaming experiences.