Creating a whole new world isn't easy using virtual reality. To fill the immersive worlds, even a semi-realistic one requires too many objects to start with. This isn't practical for a small team of developers or a small studio.
Google came up with an answer. The name is 'Poly,' and it's a library of free 3D objects for augmented and virtual reality apps.
With Poly, developers can find and share 3D objects, and can modify models in case they don't quite fit with their needs. Poly also integrates with Tilt Brush and Blocks, respectively Google’s VR painting and sculpting apps, and acts as a showcase for 3D models that developers can plug and play into their own AR or VR creations.
And because Poly is built for development kits like Google’s own ARCore, Apple’s ARKit and other VR development platforms, it allows anyone to upload or view 3D objects in a mobile or desktop browser.
For this reason, Poly offers a great amount of resources for any developer looking to jump start their first attempt in the VR/AR space.
It should help smaller developers to at least get their projects going, though, developers of all sizes can also benefit from using this tool to quickly prototype an idea.
Using Poly, developers can search for specific things, and brings up the models they can view, download, or pull directly into their VR environment for editing.
With Poly, developers can also remix projects, to then reupload them to Poly where Google will automatically create a new listing that credits and links back to the original.
There are already many asset stores for virtual objects, most of which offer payment systems that allows developers to support themselves through 3D development. Poly here is more like a hobbyist tool that goes in line with Google's goal of making its AR platform simple for newcomers to use.
Users can browse the store, and Google said that it is building out the platform later with an API, which developers can sign up to preview down the road.
Unlike other asset stores, Google initially intends to keep Poly free.