Choosing a virtual world
A framework for comparing virtual-world platforms before an immersive pilot.
Unity, customWebXR, customRecommendedReady-madeCustomisabilityVery highHighLimitedHosting and data controlFull controlFull controlVendor cloudLearning curveMediumMediumVery lowPerformanceHighModerateModerate
Findings
- 01
For the “foresight universe” pilot, a web-based XR framework such as A-Frame, Three.js, or Babylon.js is recommended.
p. 43 - 02
Pre-built platforms provide strong out-of-the-box multi-user capabilities—including avatars, voice communication, and collaboration tools—without the need for custom development.
p. 40 - 03
However, should more demanding use cases arise — such as advanced visual fidelity or specialised hardware integration — the work completed for the pilot, including all assets, data structures, and design patterns, can be ported into a Unity or Unreal environment with minimal re-work.
p. 46