Happy New Year! This is the first tech update of 2018. We have quite the year ahead and start if off with updates from our Audio, Mobile, Integrations, and Ecosystem teams.

Audio SDK 1.22

The Audio SDK v1.22 has been released with a new feature, Dynamic Room Modeling. The Oculus Native Spatializer plugin for Unity 5.2+ now supports Dynamic Room Modeling, which enables sound reflections and reverb to be generated based on a dynamically updated model of the current room (or space) within the VR experience, as well as the user's position within that room.

Mobile SDK 1.12

The Mobile SDK v1.12 provides support for the Oculus Go and Samsung Galaxy A8/A8+ (2018) smartphones in addition to multiple API changes.

Unity Integrations

The newest version of Oculus Utilities for Unity version 1.22.0 was released with additional performance enhancements. It includes an update to how the Occlusion Mesh is handled and provides a significant GPU performance improvement. Version 1.22.0 also increased the recommended MSAA level to 4x to reduce aliasing issues and improve quality.

Avatars SDK 1.22.0

With the Avatar SDK, it is easy to bring the avatar appearance users create in Oculus Home into your own applications and make them viewable by other users. Avatars also include hand presence for Touch, letting you integrate Touch interaction into your app. The Avatars SDK v1.22.0 Unity integration now supports ASTC textures with mipmaps.

Oculus Start

Last week, we announced Oculus Start, a developer program that provides access to early tech and networking opportunities, support from our industry VR veterans, and savings from partners like Unity and Unreal. The program aims to help you focus on what's important - elevating your current VR title and the next one. Consider applying to be an Oculus Start member. We look forward to supporting you!

Introducing Mi VR Standalone

At CES, Oculus and Xiaomi announced a partnership to bring a new Mi VR Standalone device exclusively to China later this year. Mi VR Standalone shares the same core hardware as Oculus Go and will support the Oculus Mobile SDK, as well as the Mi VR SDK.

Xiaomi is offering Oculus developers the opportunity to publish their mobile VR games, apps, and videos in China on the Mi VR Standalone device. Oculus developers interested in reaching Chinese consumers and the region's growing market can visit the Xiaomi developer center to learn more, and connect with the Xiaomi team: vr.mi.com/developer.

- The Oculus Team