"},{"ID":5171,"user_firstname":"Michael","user_lastname":"Branscomb","nickname":"Mike Branscomb","user_nicename":"mbranscomb","display_name":"Mike Branscomb","user_email":"MBranscomb@esri.com","user_url":"https:\/\/developers.arcgis.com\/","user_registered":"2018-03-02 00:16:51","user_description":"Mike Branscomb is a Product Manager for the ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps and ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Game Engines. With over 20 years of experience working in the Esri ecosystem, he specializes in .NET, Local Server, and 3D Scene Layers. Mike is also a Scrum Product Owner with over 10 years of experience guiding teams through the product development lifecycle.","user_avatar":"
"},{"ID":276952,"user_firstname":"Shimona","user_lastname":"Lahiri","nickname":"Shimona Lahiri","user_nicename":"shimona-lahiri","display_name":"Shimona Lahiri","user_email":"slahiri@esri.com","user_url":"","user_registered":"2021-09-14 16:48:37","user_description":"Shimona is a product marketer working with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Game Engines and Native Apps. With an undergrad degree in Psychology and an M.S. in Marketing, she is a digital marketing polymath and loves to craft interesting stories for her audience to enjoy.","user_avatar":"
"}],"short_description":"Join us at the 2025 Developer & Technology Summit to learn about using Game Engine Maps SDKs to build immersive apps.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"Esri’s Developer & Technology Summit<\/a> is here, and the Game Engine Maps SDK team is excited to connect with you! We\u2019re eager to learn about your work, explore new opportunities, and share updates on our latest developments. Join us in the sunny Palm Springs, California, from Tuesday, March 11, to Friday, March 14, for technical sessions, demo theaters, and more.<\/p>\n To help you make the most of your time at the 2025 Developer & Technology Summit, we\u2019ve put together a detailed list of all the ways you can learn about the Game Engine Maps SDKs, engage with the development team, get your questions answered, and share your feedback.\u00a0 To make it easier to view all the sessions and demo theaters listed in this post and add them directly to your schedule, feel free to use the Game Engine Maps SDKs – Blog Post Sessions agenda<\/a>.<\/p>\n We\u2019re offering three key sessions focused on the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Unity and ArcGIS Maps SDK for Unreal Engine (Game Engine Maps SDKs).\u00a0 If you’re just getting started, join the introductory session to get an overview of SDK capabilities and see how they’re being used to deliver immersive apps across a range of industries.\u00a0 The building apps session is all about demonstrating techniques for combining ArcGIS with the power of game engines to deliver lifelike experiences with real-world digital twins. Lastly, the what’s new and road ahead session covers the latest features introduced over the past year and offers a preview of upcoming enhancements.<\/p>\n Game Engine Maps SDKS: An Introduction<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Tuesday, Mar 11 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM PDT | Primrose C<\/p>\n ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Game Engines enable you to build next generation immersive 3D and XR apps with real-world spatial data. This session will introduce the ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Unity and Unreal Engine, provide an overview of the capabilities, and demonstrate how to get started with the SDKs. You will also learn about how these game engine plug-ins are being used today to build applications for a range of industries from AEC to public safety.<\/em><\/p>\n Game Engine Maps SDKs: Building Immersive Apps<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Thursday, Mar 13 | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM PDT | Mesquite GH<\/p>\n This session will demonstrate techniques for developers to create and enhance immersive applications using the ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Unity and Unreal Engine.\u00a0 This includes optimizing visualization of geospatial data, incorporating game engine assets, using special effects and physics, building XR experiences, and much more.<\/em><\/p>\n Game Engine Maps SDKS: What’s New and Road Ahead<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Thursday, Mar 13 | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM PDT | Mesquite GH<\/p>\n This session will highlight the latest capabilities introduced in the Game Engine Maps SDKs over the past year. Key updates include support for Esri’s OSM 3D buildings layer, group layers, surface placement of assets, view draw status, and an attribution component. Additionally, we\u2019ve expanded platform support to Vision Pro (visionOS) and Linux and introduced SDK enhancements such as new XR, weather, and building filter samples.\u00a0 We\u2019ll also provide a preview of features coming in the next release, including support for 3D Tiles, vertical coordinate systems for improved precision, an enhanced authentication framework, support for multiple maps, elevation exaggeration, and a more efficient scene layer loading experience.<\/em><\/p>\n Game engines offer APIs, tools, and systems that complement the Game Engine Maps SDKs, enabling developers to create more immersive and lifelike scenes. This year we’re offering a set of demo theaters that highlight how game engine rendering APIs, physics engines, particle systems, and special effects can enable access to additional geospatial data sources, demonstrate techniques for generating NerFs and gaussian splats to enhance real-time apps, and show how ArcGIS Urban and CityEngine developer tools can enhance immersive urban experiences.<\/p>\n Enhancing Visualization of GIS Data in a Game Engine\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Thursday, Mar 13 | 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM PDT | Demo Theater 2: Oasis 1-2<\/p>\n Rendering Photo-Realistic 3D Gaussian Splat Scene in a Game Engine\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Thursday, Mar 13 | 1:45 PM – 2:15 PM PDT | Demo Theater 2: Oasis 1-2<\/p>\n Hack the City: Use the Urban API, CityEngine SDK and Game Engines in Your Apps\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Thursday, Mar 13 | 1:45 PM – 2:15 PM PDT | Demo Theater 1: Oasis 1-2<\/p>\n Game Engine Maps SDKs are actively used in production applications to address real-world challenges. A key advantage of game engines is their ability to provide the responsiveness, high frame rates, and visual fidelity required for AR, MR, and VR experiences on XR headsets and mobile devices. These technical sessions demonstrate how Game Engine Maps SDKs can power practical XR applications, supporting urban planning workflows, as well as improving data collection, mission planning, and training scenarios across various industries.<\/p>\n Transforming Urban Planning with ArcGIS<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Wednesday, Mar 12 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM PDT | San Jacinto<\/p>\n ArcGIS: XR (Extended Reality)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Friday, Mar 14 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PDT | Smoketree C<\/p>\n If you’re wondering how game engines fit within the ArcGIS ecosystem, we have two sessions covering strategic topics: an overview of 3D capabilities across the system and a presentation of available development options for mobile and desktop platforms.<\/p>\n 3D GIS: An Overview<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Tuesday, Mar 11 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM PDT | Catalina<\/span><\/p>\n Strategies for Mobile and Desktop App Development<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Tuesday, Mar 11 | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM PDT | Primrose B<\/p>\n On Thursday morning we host a Keynote event for all conference attendees to see, listen, and learn about Esri customers using Esri developer technology. We\u2019re pleased to welcome Darrel Keach, Business Systems Manager at the Port of Corpus Christi, and Starr Long, Executive Producer at The Acceleration Agency.\u00a0 Darrell and Starr will discuss the creation and deployment of OPTICS<\/a> (Overall Port Tactical Information Computer System), a cutting-edge solution designed to manage security operations at the Port of Corpus Christi, one of the largest ports in the U.S. OPTICS delivers an active digital twin, providing Port staff with a real-time, comprehensive operating picture to assess situations, monitor status, and respond quickly and effectively. Particularly relevant to Esri and game engine developers, OPTICS showcases how the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Unity integrates Esri\u2019s advanced geospatial capabilities with Unity\u2019s immersive, real-time 3D rendering. Please join us to learn more about this innovative solution!<\/p>\n Keynote Session<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Thursday, Mar 13 | 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM PDT | Oasis 3-4<\/p>\n Game Engine Maps SDKs team members will be available at the Esri Showcase<\/a> from Tuesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon, with dedicated areas for each Maps SDK. Visit us to ask questions, learn more about the Maps SDKs, and share what you\u2019ve built or are working on. This is a great opportunity to connect with the developers behind the technology and share your experiences\u2014we love hearing how you’re using the Game Engine Maps SDKs!<\/p>\n Last year we introduced Code Reviews to help customers with strategic questions about development projects and solutions involving multiple parts of the ArcGIS system. Due to its success, we’re formally expanding reviews to include code, architecture, and security topics this year, which you can schedule here<\/a>.<\/p>\n With both the Game Engine Maps SDKs area at the Esri Showcase and the option to schedule a Code Review, you may be wondering which is the best fit for you:<\/p>\nPrimary sessions<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Demo Theaters<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Practical applications<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Development strategies<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Keynote<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Esri Showcase<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Code, Architecture, and Security Reviews<\/strong><\/h3>\n