For developers looking to build mixed-reality applications within the .NET ecosystem, Unity has long been the go-to tool, but its focus on gaming and its licensing model don’t always make it the best option for enterprise or non-gaming applications. While alternatives like WebXR or Power Platform’s cross-platform tools built on Babylon.js provide some flexibility, they don’t always meet the needs of developers working directly within the .NET framework. For those wanting to extend .NET applications into augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), a more dedicated approach is needed — and that’s where StereoKit comes in.
StereoKit is a .NET library designed to help developers create mixed-reality experiences that work across a range of devices. One of the most compelling reasons to use StereoKit is its integration with OpenXR, a cross-platform, open-standard framework for mixed-reality applications. Developed by the Khronos Group, the same organization behind key graphics standards like OpenGL and OpenCL, OpenXR allows developers to write code once and deploy it across multiple platforms, from Microsoft HoloLens and Oculus headsets to AR glasses and other VR devices.
The OpenXR standard removes the need for developers to worry about the specifics of different VR and AR hardware. As long as the device supports OpenXR, your application can run on it. With the modern .NET platform supporting most of the environments you’d want for hosting OpenXR applications, StereoKit leverages this cross-platform compatibility to simplify the process of creating mixed-reality applications in C#. Developers can create apps with a unified code base that seamlessly runs across diverse hardware platforms.
StereoKit, developed by the team behind Windows’ Mixed Reality Toolkit, is designed to evolve alongside Microsoft’s mixed-reality ecosystem. Future updates aim to integrate features from Microsoft’s Mixed Reality Design Language, which will further align it with the capabilities of the Windows Mixed Reality Toolkit. This synergy allows developers to bring Unity-based experiences into the broader C# and .NET development world, providing a rich toolset for creating mixed-reality applications that are both scalable and versatile. Whether you’re working with VR, AR, or both, StereoKit offers a unique opportunity to build cross-platform mixed-reality apps using .NET.