Encoding · Streaming · Playback

OpenVolumetric

Open-source, cross-platform tools for authoring, streaming, and playing volumetric video in Unity, Unreal Engine, and standalone XR.

The main idea

One open pipeline for volumetric video.

OpenVolumetric brings encoding, streaming, and synchronized playback together in a cross-platform C++ core, with native integrations for Unity and Unreal Engine.

Explore the pipeline

Use cases

Volumetric content,
placed in context.

See all use cases
01XR
A wireframe volumetric performer wearing an XR headset within translucent spatial layers

Extended reality

Place recorded people, performances, and objects inside immersive AR, VR, and mixed-reality experiences.

02VP
A camera capturing a wireframe volumetric performer on a translucent virtual production stage

Virtual production

Bring volumetric performances into real-time previs, on-set visualisation, and final-pixel production workflows.

03IS
A wireframe storyteller standing before layered translucent narrative worlds

Immersive storytelling

Place recorded performers and subjects inside documentaries, narrative experiences, and spatial installations.

04TS
Two wireframe people taking part in a guided immersive training simulation

Training & simulation

Replay realistic people and scenarios for repeatable training, rehearsal, and simulation experiences.

05CH
A preserved wireframe craftsperson working with pottery inside translucent architectural layers

Cultural heritage

Preserve performances, people, and physical practices as spatial records that audiences can revisit.

06SR
A wireframe athlete shown through successive motion poses and curved replay paths

Sports & replay

View movement and performance from new angles for analysis, storytelling, and immersive replay.

Roadmap

Building the path
from capture to experience.

View the roadmap
01Available today

Now

Build the foundation

Establish the open, cross-platform path from volumetric encoding through delivery and playback.

  • Cross-platform C++ core library
  • Volumetric video encoding, streaming, and playback
  • Shared-topology geometry compression
  • Unity integration for Windows, macOS, and Android
  • Unreal Engine 5 integration, tested and validated on Windows and macOS with version 5.8
02Proposed priorities

Next

Make adoption easier

Improve the path from discovering OpenVolumetric to integrating it into a working application.

  • Expanded developer documentation
  • Reference applications
  • Publish pre-built packages for supported platforms to simplify installation, subject to resolving third-party redistribution and licensing requirements
  • Commission high-quality sample datasets for demonstrations
  • Explore additional integration targets, including Blender and Nuke
  • More robust integration and debugging tools
  • Clearer compatibility and performance guidance
03Longer-term direction

Exploring

Broaden the ecosystem

Investigate capabilities that could extend where and how OpenVolumetric can be used.

  • Improved compression and delivery efficiency
  • Live and real-time encoding workflows
  • Wider interoperability with volumetric formats
  • Explore C2PA and content provenance
  • Integrate a pose track for human-centric content and explore volumetric editing
  • Explore web-browser playback and a browser-native integration
  • Investigate hybrid mesh and Gaussian-splat representations

Supported by

Backing open volumetric tools.

University of SurreyCentre for Vision, Speech and Signal ProcessingSupported by CVSSP, an internationally recognised research centre in audio-visual machine perception at the University of Surrey. Epic GamesEpic MegaGrantOpenVolumetric has received support from Epic Games through the Epic MegaGrants programme for "A Volumetric Video Plugin for Unreal Engine"

Start exploring

See how it works.

Read the documentation View source on GitHub