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Lesson 1: Meta Reality SDK 3.0 Setup & Configuration

Welcome to the future of VR development! In this first lesson, you'll set up Meta's revolutionary Reality SDK 3.0 and configure Unity for VR development. This is your gateway to creating immersive VR experiences with Meta's latest tools.

What You'll Learn

By the end of this lesson, you'll have:

  • ✅ Installed Meta Reality SDK 3.0
  • ✅ Configured Unity for VR development
  • ✅ Set up Meta Quest 3 development environment
  • ✅ Created your first VR scene with Meta tools

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • Unity 2023.3 LTS or newer installed
  • Meta Quest 3, Quest Pro, or Quest 2 headset
  • Windows 10/11 or macOS 12+ development environment
  • Meta Developer Account (free at developer.meta.com)

Step 1: Download Meta Reality SDK 3.0

1.1 Access the Meta Developer Portal

  1. Visit developer.meta.com
  2. Sign in with your Meta account (create one if needed)
  3. Navigate to "Reality SDK" in the developer tools section
  4. Click "Download Reality SDK 3.0"

1.2 Choose Your Platform

Select the appropriate SDK for your development environment:

  • Windows: MetaRealitySDK-3.0-Windows.exe
  • macOS: MetaRealitySDK-3.0-macOS.dmg
  • Linux: MetaRealitySDK-3.0-Linux.tar.gz

1.3 Install the SDK

Windows Installation:

# Run the installer as administrator
MetaRealitySDK-3.0-Windows.exe

# Follow the installation wizard
# Default installation path: C:\Program Files\Meta\RealitySDK\

macOS Installation:

# Mount the DMG file
open MetaRealitySDK-3.0-macOS.dmg

# Drag Meta Reality SDK to Applications folder
# Run the installer from Applications

Step 2: Unity Project Setup

2.1 Create New Unity Project

  1. Open Unity Hub
  2. Click "New Project"
  3. Select "3D (Built-in Render Pipeline)" template
  4. Name your project: MetaVRGame2026
  5. Choose a location and click "Create Project"

2.2 Configure Unity for VR

  1. Go to Edit > Project Settings
  2. Navigate to XR Plug-in Management
  3. Check "Initialize XR on Startup"
  4. Under "Provider Settings", select "Meta XR"
  5. Click "Install XR Plugin Management" if prompted

2.3 Import Meta Reality SDK

  1. In Unity, go to Assets > Import Package > Custom Package
  2. Navigate to your Meta Reality SDK installation folder
  3. Select "MetaRealitySDK-3.0.unitypackage"
  4. Click "Import" and wait for the import to complete

Step 3: Meta Quest 3 Development Setup

3.1 Enable Developer Mode

  1. Put on your Meta Quest 3 headset
  2. Go to Settings > System > Developer
  3. Toggle "Developer Mode" to ON
  4. Restart your headset when prompted

3.2 Install Meta Quest Link

For Windows:

  1. Download Meta Quest Link from meta.com/quest/accessories
  2. Install the application
  3. Connect your Quest 3 via USB-C cable

For macOS:

  1. Download Meta Quest Link from the Mac App Store
  2. Install and launch the application
  3. Connect your Quest 3 via USB-C cable

3.3 Configure Quest Link

  1. Open Meta Quest Link on your computer
  2. Put on your Quest 3 headset
  3. Allow "USB Debugging" when prompted
  4. Enable "Link" in the Quest 3 interface

Step 4: Create Your First VR Scene

4.1 Set Up VR Scene

  1. In Unity, create a new scene: File > New Scene
  2. Save the scene as VRTestScene
  3. Delete the default Main Camera (VR will provide its own)
  4. Add a Meta XR Camera Rig:
    • Right-click in Hierarchy
    • XR > Meta XR Camera Rig

4.2 Add Basic VR Environment

  1. Create a Plane for the ground:

    • GameObject > 3D Object > Plane
    • Scale it to (10, 1, 10)
    • Position at (0, 0, 0)

  2. Add some Cubes for interaction:

    • GameObject > 3D Object > Cube
    • Position at (0, 1, 2)
    • Add a Rigidbody component

  3. Create a Light:

    • GameObject > Light > Directional Light
    • Position at (0, 10, 0)
    • Set intensity to 1.5

4.3 Configure VR Settings

  1. Go to Edit > Project Settings
  2. Navigate to XR Plug-in Management > Meta XR
  3. Configure the following settings:
// VR Configuration Settings
Hand Tracking: Enabled
Eye Tracking: Enabled (Quest Pro only)
Spatial Audio: Enabled
Scene Understanding: Enabled

Step 5: Test Your VR Setup

5.1 Build and Deploy

  1. Go to File > Build Settings
  2. Select "Android" as the platform
  3. Click "Switch Platform" if needed
  4. Click "Build and Run"
  5. Choose a build location and name it VRTest.apk

5.2 Test on Quest 3

  1. Connect your Quest 3 to your computer
  2. Allow "Install Unknown Apps" when prompted
  3. The app will automatically install and launch
  4. Put on your headset and test the VR experience

Pro Tips for VR Development

Performance Optimization

  • Target 90 FPS for Quest 3 and Quest Pro
  • Target 72 FPS for Quest 2
  • Use Occlusion Culling for complex scenes
  • Implement Level of Detail (LOD) for distant objects

Development Workflow

  • Use Meta Quest Link for real-time testing
  • Enable "Developer Mode" for debugging
  • Use Unity's VR Preview for quick iteration
  • Test on multiple Quest devices for compatibility

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue: Quest 3 not detected by Unity Solution: Ensure USB debugging is enabled and Quest Link is running

Issue: VR scene appears upside down Solution: Check Meta XR Camera Rig orientation and settings

Issue: Hand tracking not working Solution: Verify hand tracking is enabled in Quest settings

Mini Challenge: Your First VR Interaction

Create a simple VR interaction:

  1. Add a Sphere to your scene
  2. Position it at (0, 2, 1)
  3. Add a Rigidbody component
  4. Test grabbing the sphere with your hands in VR
  5. Try throwing it around the scene

What's Next?

Congratulations! You've successfully set up Meta Reality SDK 3.0 and created your first VR scene. In the next lesson, you'll learn about AI-Powered Scene Understanding and how to create VR games that automatically adapt to your environment.

Troubleshooting

Unity Issues

  • Import Errors: Ensure you're using Unity 2023.3 LTS or newer
  • XR Plugin Missing: Install XR Plugin Management from Package Manager
  • Build Errors: Check Android SDK and NDK installation

Quest 3 Issues

  • Connection Problems: Try different USB-C cable
  • Developer Mode: Ensure it's enabled in Quest settings
  • Link Issues: Restart both Quest Link and Quest 3

Performance Issues

  • Low FPS: Reduce scene complexity or enable performance optimizations
  • Tracking Issues: Ensure good lighting and clear space
  • Audio Problems: Check spatial audio settings

Resources

Community Support

  • Meta Developer Discord: Join the official Meta VR developer community
  • Unity VR Forums: Get help from the Unity VR community
  • Course Discussion: Share your progress and get feedback

Ready to dive deeper into Meta's VR tools? Continue to Lesson 2: AI-Powered Scene Understanding and learn how to create VR games that understand and adapt to their environment.