Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities of Developing for Apple Vision Pro

4 min readJul 17, 2024

As a developer, it’s crucial to understand the unique challenges and opportunities that come with creating apps for new platforms. The launch of Apple’s Vision Pro marks a significant milestone as it is Apple’s first venture into VR. However, comparing the approval process for Vision Pro apps with that of mobile games is not accurate due to the novelty and complexity of the platform.

A Different Landscape for Vision Pro

Currently, the Apple Store boasts around 2 million mobile apps. This well-established ecosystem means that developers can upload new mobile apps with minimal delays, thanks to a streamlined process documented extensively online. In contrast, the Vision Pro App Store contains only about 1,000 apps, and the process for developers is still in its infancy (Business of Apps) (42matters) (Statista) (BankMyCell). This naturally results in longer approval times for Vision Pro apps compared to mobile games.

The Approval Process: Understanding the Delays

We recognize the frustration that comes with delays, but it’s important to note that we are doing everything in our power to expedite the process. The approval process for Vision Pro apps involves more rigorous checks and is less defined than for mobile apps.

Developing VR Apps with Unreal Engine 5 for Vision Pro

When it comes to VR apps specifically built with Unreal Engine 5 for the Apple Vision Pro, the situation is a bit more complex. Although there has been considerable interest and ongoing development efforts, the integration of Unreal Engine 5 with Apple Vision Pro is still in an experimental phase. As of now, there are very few, if any, fully deployed Unreal Engine 5 VR apps on the Apple Vision Pro App Store. Developers are facing challenges related to compatibility and support, which are gradually being addressed by both Apple and Epic Games. You can find more detailed discussions and updates on these efforts in forums and articles from (Epic Games) (Epic Developer Community Forums) (80 Level) (Epic Developer Community Forums).

Overcoming Development Challenges

Our goal is to be among the first to release an Unreal Engine 5 application for Vision Pro. However, this journey has been fraught with challenges:

1. Format Incompatibilities: Our initial attempts to export the application were rejected due to format issues, highlighting that Apple’s systems might not fully support a default Unreal Engine application. After much trial and error, we were able to create an acceptable file format.

2. Debugging Difficulties: We encountered additional issues with Apple’s processor that made it difficult to debug effectively. In addition, there is a complete lack of documentation and specifications for using Unreal Engine with Vision Pro.

3. Closed System and Region Locking: A major issue with the Vision Pro is that it operates as a very closed system, typical of Apple devices, but taken to the extreme with region locking. This means that it’s impossible to officially buy the headset in the Czech Republic and, at the time of our last test, to install any applications on it. For developers, this means minimal to no debugging options due to the lack of support. Developing for Vision Pro requires a Mac device, which adds another layer of complexity to making Unreal Engine work smoothly. In addition, the region lock prevents us from purchasing a necessary debug cable, further complicating the process. While there is a possibility of obtaining it unofficially, it’s uncertain if it will work due to the rumored device-specific verification. Our progress is also limited by a limited supply of headsets and Mac devices.

The Path Forward

Despite these challenges, we remain optimistic and committed to pushing boundaries. We’ll try to send different versions of our application to Apple to see what the problem really is, based on which versions they decline again. It often happens that an app can be rejected for really trivial reasons, like a misplaced button. Then we can take further steps or possibly resolve everything directly with Apple support to come to a successful conclusion.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Effort Matters

Developing for Vision Pro is not just about overcoming technical challenges. It’s about being part of a pioneering wave that sets the stage for future development. Although the integration of Unreal Engine 5 with Vision Pro is still experimental, progress is being made. The efforts of early developers like us will pave the way for more robust support and a richer ecosystem of VR apps in the future.

Conclusion

We are grateful for your unwavering support as we navigate these uncharted waters. Despite these hurdles, overcoming them will give us a significant advantage over our competitors. We are extremely appreciative of your support and can’t wait to finally show you that there is no obstacle or platform that could derail our quest to build a vibrant metaverse. Thank you for your patience and support as we work towards this exciting future.

About Victoria VR — www.victoriavr.com

Victoria VR is a revolutionary Blockchain-based Virtual Reality Metaverse. Powered by Unreal Engine and featuring realistic, highly detailed graphics, it combines a massively-multiplayer-online role-playing game (MMORPG) with a unique Social Experience Playground.

Like never before, players will be immersed in a virtual reality world where they get to live their digital life. Whether you want to Play games, Develop your digital real estate (VR Land), Own a business, Work up or Get some entertainment, your imagination is the only limitation.