The Khronos Group has introduced a new feature called Spatial Containers for the OpenXR standard. This addition allows the system to manage XR content in a way similar to application windows on traditional desktop operating systems.
Spatial Containers support two distinct operational modes. The bounded mode enables multitasking by allowing multiple applications to run side-by-side in a spatial environment. The immersive mode allows a single application to occupy the entire field of view.
This update aims to provide a more flexible control mechanism for developers regarding how applications are presented within XR environments. The design approach draws comparisons to the interaction logic found in Apple visionOS.
The feature has been officially approved and released. Implementation will depend on individual platform manufacturers, with rollout expected to begin within this year across the OpenXR ecosystem.
OpenXR currently supports a wide range of hardware and platforms, including Meta Quest, SteamVR-compatible headsets, Steam Frame, Android XR-based devices, as well as hardware from Varjo, Magic Leap, and XREAL.
