Leadwerks Software has released Leadwerks Game Engine 5.2, bringing a major upgrade to its virtual reality capabilities with a new backend powered by the OpenXR standard.
By leveraging Khronos Group’s royalty-free open standard, Leadwerks now supports virtually all VR hardware on the market today, including the new Steam Frame headset, and opens up broader hardware compatibility for developers building games and simulations.
Realistic Hand and Finger Movement
The VR player template has been updated with realistic hand movements that respond naturally to your controller input.
High-Fidelity Physics for VR
Powered by Newton Dynamics (also used in the physics-heavy Amnesia franchise), Leadwerks now automatically detects when a game is running in VR and switches to a higher-precision physics mode for both C++ and Lua projects.
Low-latency Hand Attachments with Collision
Objects attached to VR controllers benefit from low-latency tracking and full world-collision support, boosting tactile realism and immersion.
New VR Locomotion Options
The updated VR player template now handles movement out of the box. Use the right thumb stick for "dash" movement and the left stick for traditional "teleportation" locomotion that helps prevent motion sickness.
Enhanced UV Mapping Tools
The model editor receives upgraded UV unwrapping tools alongside new view modes to streamline asset texturing.
With its high-fidelity physics and the addition of OpenXR, Leadwerks 5.2 is now positioned as a versatile platform for all types of VR development.
Leadwerks is available to purchase on Steam, or try the trial version free for 30 days. The previous version 5.1 is now available as an archived branch in the Steam application properties.
