Google Blocks will return as Open Blocks
Google Blocks makes it easy to create simple 3D models in VR. The retired software is now being updated and modernized for Quest, Pico, and Steam.
The Icosa Foundation was able to convince Google to release Blocks, which was abandoned many years ago, as open source software. The foundation is now developing Open Blocks for Meta Quest, Pico and Steam based on the code.
"Over the coming months, we'll be working hard to bring the Open Blocks codebase up to modern standards. First up, we'll be switching to use the OpenXR framework and new input system within Unity, enabling us to target Open Blocks for a much wider range of XR devices. At that point, we will be aiming to create a standalone XR port, and bring Open Blocks to the Quest and Pico platforms. Along the way, there will be plenty of opportunity to add immersive XR features such as MR passthrough."
The Icosa Foundation also plans to add support for glTF import, more basic shapes, an improved color palette, and compatibility with Icosa Gallery. Icosa Gallery is a replacement developed by the group for Google's discontinued Poly 3D modeling platform. In the long term, Open Brush is supposed to become a full-fledged 3D modeling suite.
A PC VR version of the tool will soon be released on Steam.
Google Blocks was one of the first VR-native 3D modeling apps. With just six simple tools, users could easily create 3D objects (see trailer above). The tool was released in the summer of 2017 and last updated in the summer of 2018.
The Icosa Foundation previously developed Open Brush, an open source version of Google's VR painting app Tilt Brush, which Google stopped developing in 2021.
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