Unity Hires Dr. Danny Lange away from Uber to be VP of AI and Machine Learning

Unity announced that it has hired Dr. Danny Lange as VP of AI and Machine Learning. He joins from Uber, where he was head of machine learning.

At Uber, Lange led the efforts to build the world’s most versatile Machine Learning platform to support Uber’s hyper growth.  As head of machine learning, Lange will lead Unity’s efforts around AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Machine Learning.

“Danny’s deep, technical background and expertise in Machine Learning align perfectly with the needs of our developers in the rapidly changing world of games and AR / VR,” said John Riccitiello, CEO of Unity Technologies. “We look forward to Danny creating innovative technologies our developers can use to help them optimize engagement and revenue for their products.”

Previously, Lange was General Manager of Amazon Machine Learning -- an AWS product that offers Machine Learning as a Cloud Service. Before that, he was Principal Development Manager at Microsoft where he led a product team focused on large-scale Machine Learning for Big Data. Lange spent 8 years on Speech Recognition Systems, first as CTO of General Magic, Inc., then through his work on General Motor’s OnStar Virtual Advisor, one of the largest deployments of an intelligent personal assistant until Siri. Danny started his career as a Computer Scientist at IBM Research.

He holds MS and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science from the Technical University of Denmark. He is a member of ACM and IEEE Computer Society and has several patents to his credit.

Source: Unity Press Release.

Cats And VR

Looking for some Werewolves Within! Ubisoft launches its newest cross platform Social VR title.

Ubisoft continues to do its part to unite the fragmented virtual reality market by bringing it's newest VR title Werewolves Within to Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Playstation VR with cross platform online play. 

http://store.ubi.com/us/werewolves-within/57c169e46b54a406218b4567.html

Available right now, Werewolves Within originally started as a VR prototype from Ubisoft Red Storm after they stopped working on the studio's Rainbow Six game. 

Senior creative director David Votypka had this to say about the game in a recent Gamastura interview. 

"We wanted to try and capture this social experience you get from playing games around the table, especially social deduction games,"

"So that's why our prototypes typically involved a traitor of some sort, and having to figure out information about other players. I guess that's where the impetus came from."

I had a chance to try the game out at Twitch Con and was immediately enamored by the social VR elements of the game. Werewolves Within represents the early phase of social VR gaming as how Wolfenstein 3d formed a templet for first person shooters for decades to come. 

Werewolves Within is one of the first VR games to truly capture the social dynamic of table top games such as Settlers Of Catan. We will be seeing a lot more social experiences in VR coming in 2017 but Werewolves Within is actually a good glimpse at what companies like Facebook are going to use to create both user experience and retention. 

Facebook Social VR

I have to give Ubisoft some credit for taking a risk on this game to help grow the social VR ecosystem and hope to see some players taking a chance on it so I can get a few games in. I logged in this morning and could not find 4 players to play but did still have an interesting social VR experience with another person waiting for players. I do hope to see a few people on there to really see how far Werewolves Within can grow. Ubisoft is really trying to bring cross platform social gaming to VR and has already integrated this in both Eagle Flight and the upcoming Star Trek: Bridge Crew. 

Cats And VR

The awesome VR physics-based puzzle game Bounce developed by Oakland CA based Steel Wool is on sale now and has a free demo.

Bounce is a VR physics-based puzzle game for HTC Vive for Oakland CA based developers Steel Wool Games. Bounce is super fun, has a great soundtrack, is currently on sale until Dec 7, and has a FREE demo for you to try first. 

http://store.steampowered.com/app/464400/

Under the supervision of H8-Bit and 2Bit, two robots tasked with overseeing security of the intergalactic spaceship, players must help D1G-B, their spherical robot companion, traverse levels using an array of gadgets at their disposal to exit each level’s portal. With moving obstacles, laser gates, gravity wells, and multi-floor levels obstructing the path of D1G-B, players will have to use their creativity to construct solutions.

StarBlood Arena announced for PSVR during Playstation Experience 2016

StarBlood Arena is a futuristic flight combat shooter developed for use with the PlayStation VR headset. Players navigate battle pods in 360-degrees-of-freedom through underground arenas in close-quarters competitive and co-op multiplayer gameplay for 2 to 8 players.

In tournaments set up across the galaxy by the StarBlood Network, players compete for fame, fortune, and survival. Successful competitors will unlock ship modifications and customization options and battle through the ranks of the online leaderboards.

Key Features

Four modes of online competition – Carnage: A free-for-all battle, Team Carnage: team deathmatch, Gridiron: team goal-scoring game, and Invaders: a 4 player co-operative endless wave defense.
Single player – Single player skirmish mode as well as per-pilot tournaments.
Nine pilots – each with their own unique weapons, tactics, and play style.
Customizable vehicles – all APEX Battle Pods can be customized with paint schemes, visual attachments, and gameplay altering Mods.
360 degrees of freedom – Battle pods can strafe, roll, and boost in any direction while independently aiming weapons using the PlayStation VR head tracking.
Party on – easily connect with and fight alongside your online friends in both Ranked and Private matches.

Happy Thanksgiving! Also help out Planned Parenthood and ACLU by buying video games like Catlateral Damage! Here is how.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the people who have helped me out and supported me this year in life, especially on the gaming and VR side. Lets take this time to think about how we can give back and give thanks. 

A bunch of indie video game creators have done that and are sharing their works to combat some of the ugliness in our world. For between $2-$20 dollars you can get up 151 indie video games with 100% of the proceeds from this bundle will be split 50-50 between the ACLU ( American Civil Liberties Union) and Planned Parenthood. 

https://itch.io/b/149/a-good-bundle

 $2 will get you 89 video games, like Zoe Quinn’s Depression Quest.  At $8, you will get 36 additional titles, such as Vectorpark’s Metamorphabet. At $20 you get access to everything in the bundle, including some top titles and also some of my personal favorites like Catlateral Damage, Gone Home, and the super excellent cyber punk adventure Read Only Memories.  

Keep in mind these are not VR games and more than 25 of the titles are browser-based. However the games are all high quality and made by developers who not only care about the medium but how they can use it to help the world. The games are playable on Linux, Mac and/or WIndows PC.

The bundle will be available until 3 p.m. ET on Nov. 29. So if you feel the need to buy something on Black Friday A Good Bundle is a good deal for a good cause.

2K Announces NBA® 2KVR Experience Available on November 22

2K today announced NBA® 2KVR Experience , the first virtual reality basketball game immersing players in a new, entertaining NBA environment filled with the sights and sounds of fun mini-games and challenges. Available beginning on November 22 on PlayStation®VR, HTC Vive ™, and Samsung Gear VR, the new experience continues the dominance of the NBA 2K series.

“Our team consistently looks for new ways to deliver unique, fun experiences for the gamer,” said Greg Thomas, President of Visual Concepts. “NBA 2KVR will give fans even more access to our franchise and test new skills across entertaining VR challenges.”

In the NBA 2KVR Experience , players will join NBA 2K17 cover athlete and All-Star Paul George, as they step onto the court at the Indiana Pacers’ stadium, Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Paul George will also provide commentary and guide the player by offering tips to help improve their skills in mini-games and features including three-point shootout, a speed and accuracy skills challenge, the buzzer beater countdown. Players who can earn a variety of Gatorade boosts that will aide their shooting acumen, speed, recovery and more to help reach the top of the leaderboards

Calling all developers for the Samsung Gear VR Killer App Contest

Samsung is searching for the next killer GearVR app and is incentivizing devs with an app challange. If your app has not been published for Samsung Gear VR yet, send them yourdemo/app experience created in the Oculus SDK with Unity or Web VR. It doesn’t have to be a complete app or experience. It doesn’t have to be a game also. Apps previously published to other platforms since this September are also eligible. Samsung is looking for diverse and amazing uses of Samsung Gear VR, and want to help promote them to the world.

Don't waste anytime cause the deadline is November 23 2016 and the prizes are pretty good.

EVE: VALKYRIE NOW AVAILABLE ON STEAM FOR HTC VIVE

CCP Games today announced that EVE: Valkyrie™, the virtual reality (VR) multiplayer dogfighting shooter celebrated by Wired.com as "a soaring example of VR as the future of gaming" is available now on Steam for play with the HTC Vive VR headset.

EVE: Valkyrie launched in March for Oculus Rift and in October for the PlayStation VR. It is the world's first three-platform multiplayer VR game, as well as the first ever to offer cross-platform play. Players on all three platforms fly with, and against, each other online.

"EVE holds a special place in PC gaming, and EVE: Valkyrie is a superb entry into the growing VR gaming space. We're thrilled that HTC Vive owners can experience it from today on Steam, and will be able to enjoy an incredible cross-platform multiplayer experience," said Jon Goddard, European Marketing Director, VR at HTC.

CCP has already delivered two free updates for EVE: Valkyrie, most recently with the Joint Strike release, which added features like a new co-op game mode, a new single-player story mission, quick chat options, and more. The next free update is coming in early December, and CCP will continue to deliver new maps, modes, ships, and other free content updates to the game over time, working closely with the game's Founders.

For a limited time, CCP is offering a special promotion on Steam that awards all EVE: Valkyrie Founder's Pack purchasers with a free copy of the company's best-selling VR arcade shooter, Gunjack.

ABOUT EVE: VALKYRIE

EVE: Valkyrie is an award-winning multiplayer dogfighting shooter that harnesses the very latest advances in virtual reality technology. It is an accessible and immersive experience that fulfills the fantasy and thrill of being a real spaceship pilot in the midst of combat. USA Today noted that EVE: Valkyrie is "perhaps the greatest showcase of virtual reality's potential."

Developed by CCP Games' Newcastle studio, EVE: Valkyrie is the boldest realization of virtual reality space combat, combining immediate visceral action and tactical depth. The EVE: Valkyrie Founder's Pack is available for purchase on Steam for $59.99.

More information about EVE: Valkyrie can be found at https://www.evevalkyrie.com/ .

Obduction coming to Playstation VR

Cyan, Inc., the legendary indie studio that created beloved and best-selling games, Myst and Riven, today announced that their critically-acclaimed sci-fi adventure puzzler, Obduction, will be getting its first console reveal this holiday season at PlayStation Experience, December 3-4, at the Anaheim Convention Center.

"After nearly 20 years, we're thrilled to be heading back to console. With its massive player base and rich PSVR experience, PlayStation is the perfect platform to introduce Obduction's meticulously-crafted worlds to millions seeking to magically transport themselves elsewhere," said Rand Miller, CEO of Cyan. “Cyan has seen the future and we're all in on VR."

Fans who attend PlayStation Experience will be the first to get their hands on Obduction PS4 with guided tours by Cyan’s dev team. Additionally, there will be a special conversation with Rand Miller at the Obduction booth on Saturday, December 3, 3pm, on Cyan's vision for PSVR and beyond.

Having recently announced Obduction for HTC Vive, Cyan has already begun work adding support for hand controls and room scale. Hand controls will allow players to interact directly with objects in the world - buttons, levers, doors, valves, etc. - even picking up objects to examine them. These new features will provide an even more immersive experience to players with the appropriate capabilities (Vive, Oculus Touch, and PSVR).

Obduction is available for PC and Rift on  Oculus Store,  Steam,  GOG, and  Humble Store, for the introductory price of $29.99, coming soon to Mac. Obduction for PS4, PSVR and Vive coming 2017.

Futuristic war-themed VR shooter Overkill VR launches on HTC Vive today.

Today, VR-specialized publisher Game Troopers is launching Overkill VR, the ultimate futuristic VR shooter exclusively available for HTC VIVE on Steam. In this game you will experience what 360º VR playability is about: cover yourself from enemy attacks as if you actually were in the fighting field and accurately aim your targets all over the scenario!

With Overkill VR you will lead the Resistance into victory over the evil Faction forces and their brutal killing machines. In order to succeed you will have to customize and upgrade your weapons —you will find classic shotguns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, machine guns and super-powered firearms— as you travel through ever-changing environments, from hostile deserts to abandoned cities and industrial complexes.

“With Overkill VR we pursued maximizing the capabilities of the HTC VIVE headset” says Jesús Bosch, CEO at Game Troopers. “Overkill VR is the first VR shooter made exclusively for HTC VIVE which brings you the look and feel of future war”.

Steam Link: http://store.steampowered.com/app/518720

The Obama administration launches competition to harness the creativity and ingenuity of the VR and AR developer community on behalf of America’s students.

“I’m calling for investments in educational technology that will help create. . . educational software that’s as compelling as the best video game. I want you guys to be stuck on a video game that’s teaching you something other than just blowing something up.”
 President Obama,

The Obama administration has launched a new competition to harness the creativity and ingenuity of the VR and AR developer community on behalf of America’s students

Utilizing the  U.S. Department of Education the administration has  launched the EdSim Challenge for next-generation educational simulations that will prepare students for the globally competitive workforce of the 21st century. The department is looking for immersive-learning experiences to help bolster career and technical skills of American youth. The DOE is incentivizing the competition  with $680,000 in cash prizes and additional sponsor prizes from IBM, Microsoft, and Samsung.

The administration has long felt that game developers have a way to reach the youth that current educators may not. In 2014, the Administration held the first White House Education Game Jam and in 2015 the U.S. Department of Education held the first Games for Learning Summit with Games for Change.

Information provided by WhiteHouse.gov

https://www.edsimchallenge.com/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016/11/15/new-prize-challenge-virtual-and-augmented-reality-learning-tools

VR Retreat releases a Hillary Wins VR experience....yep cause you know escapism is a thing.

Yeah so that election was doozy right and will have major ramifications for not only the next 4 years but may destroy any progressive reforms that may have happened in the history of America. I am a bit numb and don't really want to write about VR for a bit but hey some one made a Hillary Wins VR experience. I figured I would share...cause lets keep the pain going am I right...anybody? Here is a video and a link from VR Retreat

 http://vr-retreat.com/hillary-wins-vr/

From the VR Retreat website:

"Let’s be honest. Few people expected what happened last night. Maybe it is time to retreat from reality and continue our lives in virtual reality from now on.

The Hillary Wins VR Experience gives people a sneak peak at the best reality that we can now only experience in VR. When all it takes is to have the best words to win an election, why not opt out of reality completely? We are here to help.

We also build a mindfulness based and psychedelic VR game for people who want to escape reality on all those days without shocking election results."

If you guys want some Trump stuff here is a Video Jaunt VR did showing what is inside Trumps head...cause no one thought this would happen.

AltspaceVR today announced VR Capture, the first integrated solution for the capture, distribution, and playback of live VR performances and events

 AltspaceVR today announced VR Capture, the first integrated solution for the capture, distribution, and playback of live virtual reality (VR) performances and events.  VR Capture will debut November 10th at 11:00 am PST / 7:00 pm GMT and again at 7:00 pm PST / 10:00 pm EST with a live demonstration in AltspaceVR hosted by CEO Eric Romo. For more information or to attend go here. 

“VR Capture is an important breakthrough for the development and growth of VR as a medium,” said Eric Romo, CEO, AltspaceVR. “Being able to capture and playback anything that happens in AltspaceVR will encourage artists, creators, and performers to leverage their talents and better satisfy a growing VR market that is hungry for content.”

Most other forms of electronic communications—telephone, radio, video, video conferencing, television—depend on the ability to record and replay content. VR Capture brings an analogous capability to the VR market. 

With VR Capture, performers and select others are recorded in full VR, including their avatar, movements, voice and music. Audience reactions are captured in the form of emojis so attending an encore presentation feels just like the original experience. Unlike 360 video with its fixed viewing location, VR Capture offers the full live experience where users can move throughout the event space, experiencing the show from any angle. While VR Capture opens the door for a variety of creative applications, AltspaceVR will initially be using it for the capture and playback of live events, making them more available for audiences around the world.

Recent live events in AltspaceVR have featured Drew Carey, Duncan Trussell, Justin Roiland, Al Roker, Chuck Todd, and Reggie Watts. Using VR as a medium eliminates cost, time, and other barriers related to travel, distance, and venues. People can easily join, but scheduling for fans located across different time zones is a challenge. Now, for the first time, this content can be captured and then scheduled for a fully immersive VR experience at a later time for groups of any size. Content creators can maximize the value of their content with multiple showings and fans get more opportunities to experience live events. 

VR content typically is synthesized from a variety of methods, requiring specialized equipment, software, post-processing and technical skills.  Until now, the best option to capture a live VR event was to record and watch it as a “two-dimensional” video. With AltspaceVR, capture and playback is easy and provides a fully immersive social VR experience:

It does not require special equipment, editing software or high-end computers
There is no intermediate processing, so the VR Capture is available for immediate replay
The VR Capture is streamed from the cloud, removing concerns about time, storage space, or security of downloads.

In contrast to other VR experiences, VR Capture provides social, shared experiences, allowing an unlimited number of people to join (when used with AltspaceVR FrontRow™ technology)

AltspaceVR is rolling out its use of VR Capture with an all-day marathon of VR shows on November 11 and is developing a regular schedule of content designed for its users in all time zones. VR Capture is now available to support live events by AltspaceVR partners.  Learn more here. 

AltspaceVR supports Facebook’s Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Samsung Gear VR in full VR mode, as well as PC and Mac in “two-dimensional” desktop mode. 

For more information about AltspaceVR, please visit altvr.com.

Looking for a Virtual Place to chill the F out post election, check out High Fidelity.

Happy moment from our celebration this morning of getting up on Steam. Come visit! https://t.co/NKrsM8nc5G

— Philip Rosedale (@philiprosedale) November 9, 2016

Just announced today the awesome Social VR platform Hi Fidelity is live on Steam Early Access today. High Fidelity is an open-source virtual reality platform that gives everyone the power to create, explore, and share virtual spaces. It works with both Oculus Rift and Vive, and you can also run it on your PC in desktop mode if you don't have a headset. 

I have recently spent sometime in High Fidelity using their client and was very impressed. The platform is super welcoming and I was greeted by a small yet amazing group of community members. My last time in High Fidelity I spoke with a Unity Dev from Seattle who basically helped me understand how to create my own avatars. There was an awesome greater that also showed me how to fly. If you are looking for a Virtual Space to laugh and chat during these current times check out High Fidelity. The world is super interactive and customizable once you understand it.

Honestly my first time in I was shocked at how social the experience really is. Basically this is the Super Sayan version of Second Life and is actually created by the visionary behind Second Life.

Check them out on Steam

http://store.steampowered.com/app/390540/

CatsAndVR.com

Lantern coming to Oculus Rift and HTC Vive next week.

To counteract the upcoming grey winter and to spread positive energy, joy and color, Lantern will be lit on November 15th. Distributed through SteamTM and other digital outlets, the relaxing game experience of Lantern is ready to engulf you in a tranquil atmosphere and ease your mind. The whole family can enjoy its landscapes, rich with colors and ambient East Asian Soundtrack.

Both Oculus Rift and HTC Vive owners will have the extra benefit of experiencing Lantern in VR.

The release of Lantern is accompanied by a contest for Lantern SteamTM keys and many other games from 1C. Take some happy photos, add a lantern, post them on the Facebook page and win! https://www.facebook.com/1CCompany/

About the game

“Once upon a time, there was a very sad princess. She felt so unloved and unhappy that everything around her became grey and lifeless, and the entire land was deprived of color and joy. Our fable begins when a single, lonely lantern was lit in a faraway village…”

Be the wind and guide a beautiful sky lantern that spreads the powerful message of everlasting love, bringing life and color back to the world around you. Enjoy four beautiful East Asian-inspired worlds, each with a different theme, nature and architecture. Fly the magical red lantern as it spreads vibrant, happy colors throughout these sad, grey lands.

The influence of the lantern’s light not only changes the color of the world, but also has various other effects, such as igniting other lamps, restoring animals to life, and making windmills start spinning. Ultimately success will come once the kingdom is full of color and happiness has returned to the land.

Bring the powerful message of everlasting love to four East Asian-inspired worlds
Create wonderful lantern festivals, spreading warmth and joy
Restful music and peaceful sounds will accompany you on your journey toward happiness
Immerse yourself in a relaxing experience – a virtual coloring book with an aesthetic atmosphere
Virtual Reality support (Oculus Rift and HTC Vive)

The NFL and Google to launch VR series on Youtube and Daydream.

The NFL and Google announced an expansion of their relationship that will allow fans around the world to see the NFL as never before in virtual reality.  NFL Films,  will produce a 9-part series that gives viewers a 360-degree perspective of life in and around the NFL – from players, to coaches, to executives, to cheerleaders, to the fans themselves – detailing how each prepares for game day in a completely new and immersive way.

The first episode of the virtual reality series will be available to watch via the NFL channel on YouTube on Thanksgiving Day.  Later this year, episodes will also be available via the NFL VR app designed for Daydream, Google’s high-quality mobile VR offering, along with other immersive content experiences.

This will be the NFL’s first foray into producing content in virtual reality, after having experimented with the technology last season.  The series will also be the first episodic sports program in virtual reality.

“We are always looking for new ways to engage with our fans.  Virtual reality is an emerging platform that enables content experiences with a truly unique vantage point that brings fans closer to the game,” said Vishal Shah, Senior Vice President, Digital Media at the NFL.  “It’s an exciting new medium to explore as we look to evolve and grow our offerings, and this partnership with Google is an important step in that direction.”

The NFL Films series is currently in production and being shot using Jump, Google’s 360-degree camera and capture system.  In the first episode of the series, viewers will spend a week with the Philadelphia Eagles defensive line as they prepare for the upcoming matchup and gain exclusive access to the Eagles bench and sideline on game day.  Other episodes will give viewers the opportunity to tag along with the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders, experience the distinctive football culture in Green Bay, and take a unique look inside the San Diego Chargers organization, to name a few.

“This series will give fans an opportunity to connect with the NFL like never before, whether they are on YouTube or using Google’s virtual reality headset, Daydream View,” said Amit Singh, Vice President, Google VR.  “We’re thrilled to work with the NFL to capture the series with Jump and bring it to YouTube and Daydream.”

“NFL Films has always been known for telling great football stories and capturing the emotional essence of our sport,” said Ross Ketover, Senior Executive at NFL Films.  “Now using Google VR technology, there’s potential to do that in a whole new way and we’re excited to bring that perspective to our fans.”

New FREE Call of Duty VR content for ALL Playstation VR owners available on Nov 4

Activision announced that the The Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare - Jackal Assault VR Experience will be available to all PS4 owners, not just for players who have purchased the game, as a free, added bonus on November 4.

Just head to the PlayStation VR section of the PlayStation Store, and after selecting Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare – Jackal Assault VR Experience, follow the prompts to download and install. You will need a Playstation VR to play. 

Virtual Reality Tower Defense Game Siege Hammer launched at VRDC

Virtual Reality company and development studio MyDream Interactive, Inc. (www.mydreamvr.com), today announced the early access release of its tower defense game in VR, Siege Hammer. The game is available on Steam for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive through the Oculus store. Tower defense and its variants are a top genre for PC and mobile gaming, but until now were never built with VR in mind. The MyDream Interactive team brought decades of game design experience into addressing VR’s unique challenges and immersive nature, creating a new style of play striking a balance between calm and exhilarating in the world of Siege Hammer. 

“Siege Hammer is the perfect virtual reality game for players of all ages and levels,” said Andrew Leker, the game’s designer and COO of MyDream Interactive. “It’s a whole new way to think about play in VR, combining the strategy of building defenses with the intensity of first-person attack. We’re thrilled to be offering more than fifteen hours of playtime at launch, which will be greatly expanded with the upcoming additions.”

Players take on the role of Blip, a tiny armor-clad hero, whose mission is to to defend castle realms using his mighty Siege Hammer. The game combines some of the most familiar features of tower defense, including waves of enemies and buildable defenses; however, Siege Hammer extends the genre with innovative look-to-shoot functionality, resource collecting, and a rail-based movement system that delivers a blend of cinematic vistas and in-your-face, point-blank action.  

The Samsung GearVR version of this game is slated for release in December. Subsequent releases will allow the player to engage the immersive world of Siege Hammer with additional content, a larger storyline, and multiplayer collaboration.

Pricing and availability
Siege Hammer is an early-access game, available on Steam for two weeks at a launch sale price of $9.99, and will be priced at $14.99 throughout the early access period. For more information, please go to: http://siegehammer.co/. The full version is expected to hit market in Q1 of 2017.

Unity Technologies announced a host of new partnerships and exciting updates during their Unite LA event today.

Unity Technologies announced a host of new partnerships and exciting updates during their event Unite LA today.

Unity's experimental EditorVR build will be available on December 15th. It will be completely open-source, with an open API.

An experimental EditorVR build will be available by the end of 2016! It will be completely open-source, with an open API #Unite16 pic.twitter.com/d7PrWBYLZK

— Unity (@unity3d) November 1, 2016

Facebook and Google also made some updates during the event. Facebook revealed its new dedicated PC gaming platform Facebook Gameroom and announced open beta access of their export-to-Facebook feature in Unity Editor to all Unity developers. The public preview build is available here: https://fb.me/gameroom

 
Google used  Unite LA to give us the official  street date of Google Daydream as November 10th

 
Additional news includes:

 
Support of Nintendo Switch at launch. Unity also announced that Nintendo's first game made specifically for smartphone, Super Mario Run, is made with Unity. Nintendo looked to Unity's engine and development environment to make the game a fun, graphically beautiful experience worthy of the Mario franchise.

An exclusive relationship with Xiaomi, China’s leading Android manufacturer (source: Device Intelligence) and host to one of the region’s largest app stores. As part of the agreement Xiaomi will aid Unity developers in the region’s required licensing process, making it much easier for them to enter the growing market which accounted for more than one-quarter of the 2.4 billion new unique devices seen by Unity in Q3.

 
Native integration for AR platform Vuforia to support and accelerate new content creation. Today, developers use Unity and Vuforia together to create most of the platform’s games, enterprise, and consumer 3D applications, including titles from Activision, EA, LEGO and Square Enix. To learn more, please visit: http://developer.vuforia.com/

 
With nearly 5 billion downloads of made with Unity mobile games in Q3 alone, Unity continues to enable developers to create for and deploy to the platforms, audiences, and devices that matter most, from phones to console, VR, and AR.

Three of the world’s best Google Tilt Brush artists collaborated to create a Marvel Doctor Strange promotion.

In collaboration with RealD 3D, three of the world’s best Google Tilt Brush artists collaborated to create alternate realities inspired by Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange. Artists Stuart Campbell, Steve Teeple and Danny Bittman traveled to New York, London and Hong Kong to let fans expand their minds, exclusively in Tilt Brush by Google. 

Though I would love to actually experience this in Tilt Brush, that is not an option. You can strap on a Google Cardboard and check out the 360° Video below. You can also check it out on your desk to moving with your mouse.