X-Plane & iRacing Add Apple Vision Pro Support via PC VR
▼ Summary
– X-Plane 12 and iRacing will gain official Apple Vision Pro support, streamed from a PC via Nvidia CloudXR with mixed reality blending of physical accessories.
– This support, announced at GDC 2026, will use a foveated streaming feature in visionOS that prioritizes image quality where the user is looking.
– While CloudXR can use a cloud PC, users can also stream these games from their own local gaming PC as the rendering source.
– Key advantages over existing methods include a simplified launch process and mixed reality overlay that actively tracks and aligns physical controls.
– The official support for these streamed simulations on the Vision Pro is scheduled to arrive later in the spring.
Two of the most demanding PC simulation titles, X-Plane 12 and iRacing, are gaining official support for the Apple Vision Pro. This integration will allow players to stream these detailed virtual reality experiences directly from their local gaming computers to the headset. The announcement, made at the Game Developers Conference, hinges on a collaboration with Nvidia’s CloudXR technology and a new feature within the visionOS operating system.
The system will utilize a visionOS capability known as foveated streaming. This intelligent process focuses rendering resources and image quality precisely where the user’s eyes are looking, conserving bandwidth and computational power. Nvidia’s CloudXR software development kit is engineered to take full advantage of this eye-tracking feature. While CloudXR is often associated with cloud-based gaming servers, this specific implementation for the simulators also supports a local PC as the rendering source, providing flexibility for users.
This official pathway offers several distinct benefits over existing methods like the open-source ALVR tool. A major advantage is the simplified launch and connection process. Dedicated client applications on the Vision Pro will automatically discover and link to the games running on the user’s computer, streamlining setup. Another significant improvement is the mixed reality integration for physical accessories. The system actively tracks real-world equipment like flight yokes, steering wheels, and pedals, overlaying them onto the virtual environment. This not only allows users to see their own gear but also enables the software to automatically align the virtual cockpit, removing the need for manual recentering which can be imprecise and disruptive.
Performance targets are ambitious, with streaming expected to reach up to 120 frames per second on the latest Vision Pro hardware. This high refresh rate is crucial for maintaining immersion and preventing discomfort in fast-paced racing and flight simulations. The official supported release for streamed versions of X-Plane 12 and iRacing on the Apple Vision Pro is scheduled to arrive later in the spring. The promised combination of high-fidelity streaming, automated calibration, and mixed reality overlays has the potential to address some of the most common frustrations users face with traditional VR simulation setups.
(Source: Upload VR)
