Unity XR starting point
XRI gives you interaction building blocks. A game template gives those blocks a job.
Unity's VR project template can configure a VR-ready project with URP, OpenXR, and XR Interaction Toolkit. XRI provides the interaction framework. A game-specific template adds the rules, progression, UI, feedback, and connected examples that sit above it.
These are different layers, so the right choice depends on how much architecture you want to design yourself.
Unity’s VR Template is a project starting point. It configures a fully virtual project with URP, OpenXR, XR Interaction Toolkit, and example content.
XR Interaction Toolkit is the component-based interaction framework underneath many Unity VR projects. It supplies interactors, interactables, interaction management, locomotion support, and UI interaction building blocks.
Framework layer
Use XRI when you want to design the game architecture yourself
If the interesting part of your project is inventing the systems, starting from the framework can be exactly right. You keep maximum control over the structure and add only the features you need.
XRI solves common interaction plumbing. It does not decide what your minigame rules, progression, scoring, or economy should be.
Game-template layer
Use a specific template when the example loop is close to what you need
The value is not that the template replaces XRI. It shows one complete way to organize a small game around it. You can inspect the connections, keep the useful pieces, and replace the theme or rules.
Frostyard adds snowball targets, racing, a spline ride, rewards, unlocks, menus, saving, haptics, audio hooks, and effects above the XRI layer.
Need the game layer already connected?
Winter VR Playground Template - XR Interaction Toolkit
Choose the Winter VR Playground Template when a minigame hub with throwing, checkpoint racing, a scripted ride, progression, unlocks, world-space UI, saving, and Quest-focused setup is close to the prototype you want.
- Complete Frostyard demo scene
- XR Interaction Toolkit project setup
- Snowball target minigame with moving target and bonus hit area
- Ice-rink checkpoint race system
- Spline-based slide ride with comfort vignette support
