Khronos Adds Middleware Insights to the OpenXR Extension Matrix
by Frederic Plourde, XR Lead at Collabora and Khronos OpenXR Outreach Officer
If you're building an XR application, you've likely hit this question: which OpenXR™ extensions does your game engine or XR framework actually support? Until now, that answer was hard to come by.
To solve this, the Khronos® OpenXR working group has expanded its Extension Matrix to include self-reported data from middleware providers. Developers now have a clearer view of what's available across the broader XR stack.
Section of expanded Extension Matrix, including middleware
Every cell in the matrix includes clickable labels for additional details, making it easier to explore fine-grained extension support across the middleware ecosystem. With this update, the OpenXR Extension Matrices give developers clear visibility into:
OpenXR conformance applies to specific runtime and hardware combinations that pass Khronos testing. However, Khronos does not require runtimes to support any particular set of OpenXR extensions, and support varies by vendor. Because of this, the XR engine or middleware that your application relies on may use vendor-specific extensions that aren’t available everywhere. As a result, your application may only work on certain runtimes or devices, rather than all OpenXR-compliant systems.
If you encounter missing features or bugs in a middleware component, report them directly to the middleware provider to drive improvements and consistent support across platforms. Ensuring consistent functionality and broad platform support is their responsibility.
Are you an engine or middleware provider using OpenXR? Khronos wants to hear from you, especially if you have an active developer community. Reach out to the OpenXR working group to get your extension support data included in the matrix, and help developers everywhere know exactly what your platform supports.
Explore the updated Extension Support Matrix today, and share your feedback and suggestions on the OpenXR working group GitHub. Together, we can shape a future for XR that stays open, extensible, and interoperable!
Explore now: https://github.khronos.org/OpenXR-Inventory/extension_support.html Join the conversation: OpenXR Community Discord
To solve this, the Khronos® OpenXR working group has expanded its Extension Matrix to include self-reported data from middleware providers. Developers now have a clearer view of what's available across the broader XR stack.
Section of expanded Extension Matrix, including middleware
Every cell in the matrix includes clickable labels for additional details, making it easier to explore fine-grained extension support across the middleware ecosystem. With this update, the OpenXR Extension Matrices give developers clear visibility into:
- Which extensions are supported by runtimes and middleware providers
- Extension capabilities exposed in the XR stack, from middleware, through OpenXR device runtimes on specific hardware
OpenXR conformance applies to specific runtime and hardware combinations that pass Khronos testing. However, Khronos does not require runtimes to support any particular set of OpenXR extensions, and support varies by vendor. Because of this, the XR engine or middleware that your application relies on may use vendor-specific extensions that aren’t available everywhere. As a result, your application may only work on certain runtimes or devices, rather than all OpenXR-compliant systems.
If you encounter missing features or bugs in a middleware component, report them directly to the middleware provider to drive improvements and consistent support across platforms. Ensuring consistent functionality and broad platform support is their responsibility.
Growing the Matrix Together
The expanded matrix launches with five middleware components already on board: Godot Engine, LÖVR, StereoKit, Unity, and Unreal Engine, with more to come.Are you an engine or middleware provider using OpenXR? Khronos wants to hear from you, especially if you have an active developer community. Reach out to the OpenXR working group to get your extension support data included in the matrix, and help developers everywhere know exactly what your platform supports.
Explore the updated Extension Support Matrix today, and share your feedback and suggestions on the OpenXR working group GitHub. Together, we can shape a future for XR that stays open, extensible, and interoperable!
Explore now: https://github.khronos.org/OpenXR-Inventory/extension_support.html Join the conversation: OpenXR Community Discord
