Documentation

OpenVolumetricDocumentation

Learn how to author, stream, and play synchronized volumetric video in Unity, Unreal Engine, and standalone XR.

OpenVolumetric is an open-source volumetric-video authoring and playback system. It stores texture video, time-varying Draco geometry, and optional audio on one MP4 timeline and plays the same asset through an engine-independent C++ core.

Choose a path

Get startedPrepare source sequences and create your first playable asset. Use UnityConfigure playback, author content, and deploy to desktop or Quest. Use UnrealAdd the component, author content, and use Blueprint controls. Author contentEncode images, geometry, and audio into a verified OpenVolumetric asset. Stream contentServe fixed or adaptive fragmented MP4 packages over HTTP. Technical referenceExplore the architecture, container format, and geometry compression system.

What is implemented

  • A versioned vvge MP4 geometry track alongside conventional video and optional audio.
  • Shared-topology geometry compression using complete Draco reference meshes and position-only Draco updates.
  • Unity 6 playback and authoring on macOS, Windows, and Meta Quest/Android.
  • Unreal Engine 5 runtime and Editor authoring integration, tested and validated on Windows and macOS with version 5.8.
  • Local files, progressive HTTP range input, fragmented MP4, and two-level adaptive packages.
  • Timestamp-based texture and geometry matching with synchronized native audio.
  • An installable CMake SDK exposing engine-neutral runtime and authoring targets.

Evidence and limitations

OpenVolumetric is active research software. Features described as implemented have working code and functional validation, but not every engine/platform combination has completed release-grade performance and endurance testing.

Current boundaries include the project-specific vvge track, variable support for custom tracks in generic media players, software video decoding on Quest, and broader validation across additional Unreal releases and packaged targets. DASH, C2PA, Nuke integration, and neural compression are investigations rather than current features.

Licensing

OpenVolumetric code is released under the Apache License 2.0, allowing commercial and non-commercial use, modification, and redistribution subject to the license conditions. Third-party dependencies retain their own licences.

For source code, issue tracking, and the complete internal technical record, visit the OpenVolumetric repository.