Release notes

This release introduces support for 3D Tiles layers. 3D Tiles are an Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standard, similar to the Indexed Scene Layer (I3s) specification, designed to facilitate the visualization of extensive 3D datasets in accordance with the OGC 3D Tiles specification. A 3D Tiles layer can reference and render spatial data from online services, tilesets (.json), or 3D Tiles archive formats (.3tz), ensuring compatibility across OGC-compliant platforms. Leveraging a hierarchical data structure, 3D Tiles enable optimized streaming and rendering of complex geospatial content for enhanced performance and scalability. In addition, the 3D Tiles layers clip and mask functions are similar to those with 3D scene layers (e.g., integrated mesh, 3D object), making it easier to integrate them with other layers in your scene. Furthermore, 3D Tiles layers support vertical coordinate systems and automatic grid transformations, which enhances their adaptability in various spatial environments. For more information, see the 3D Tiles Layer page.

With this release, the authentication workflow has been updated to provide a more streamlined user experience. The ArcGIS Maps SDK for Unity supports OAuth 2.0 user authentication, enabling developers to authenticate users and access secured resources using the ArcGIS platform. The SDK also supports ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise authentication workflows, allowing users to sign in with their ArcGIS credentials to access their content and services. It additionally supports accessing private content from multiple portals simultaneously. For more information, see the Authentication page.

The ArcGIS Maps SDK for Unity now supports custom materials in tile layers. You can now colorize these layers, which is especially useful for operations like 3D viewshed analysis. For more information about 3D viewshed, see the Viewshed sample.

Editor support for setting a map spatial reference has been added to the Map Creator UI. This feature allows users to set the spatial reference of the map directly in the editor UI. Users can enter the preferred spatial reference using the Well-Known ID (WKID). This enhancement simplifies the process of configuring the map's spatial reference and ensures that the map is accurately positioned in the scene.

Support for elevation exaggeration has been introduced in this release, providing users the ability to enhance the visibility of subtle surface changes and improve understanding and analysis of terrain features. This feature is particularly useful when visualizing terrains where the horizontal extent significantly exceeds vertical changes, to make any differences in the elevation more prominent. Users can also apply fractional elevation exaggeration to flatten or reduce surfaces with extreme vertical variations to help create a more balanced view of the terrain. For more information, see the Elevation page.

This release expands support for Esri's hosted global Open 3D Buildings and Esri 3D Buildings layers, enabling you to work with these layers in Local Map Mode in the Web Mercator projected coordinate system, the default when using basemaps from the gallery.

With this release, the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Unity now supports multiple maps in a single scene. This feature allows users to display and interact with multiple maps simultaneously, each with its own set of operational layers, basemaps, and viewpoints. Users can create and manage multiple maps using the UI or API, which provides methods for adding, removing, and updating maps in the scene. This capability is particularly useful for applications that require side-by-side map comparisons. See the Overview Map sample for more information.

The ArcGIS Maps SDK for Unity now includes a no-code option for users to enter the spatial reference WKID of a preferred vertical coordinate system directly in the UI editor whenever a point or a location/position is involved. For more information, see the Vertical Coordinate System section in the Spatial Reference page.

Vertical Coordinate Systems (VCS) help to accurately define the origin for height or depth values in relation to other spatial data, ensuring that the data is spatially located correctly, which is crucial for accurate visualization and analysis. Each VCS includes a unit of measure, typically linear units such as feet or meters, and a direction that indicates whether values are "positive up" (heights above a surface) or "positive down" (depths below a surface). There are two main types of VCS: ellipsoidal systems, which use a mathematically defined ellipsoidal surface (commonly used by GNSS receivers), and gravity-related systems, which are based on average sea level.

This release introduces support for Light Mode to the Map Creator UI. This enhancement aligns the Map Creator UI with the Unity UI's light mode, providing users with a seamless and visually consistent experience. Users can now switch between Light Mode and Dark Mode based on their preferences, ensuring a comfortable and personalized working environment.

• Authentication related APIs have been added to support authentication workflows, including various classes and enums such as:
  • ArcGISAuthenticationChallenge class
  • ArcGISAuthenticationManager class
  • ArcGISCredential class
  • ArcGISCredentialStore class
  • ArcGISOAuthUserConfiguration class
  • ArcGISOAuthUserCredential class
  • ArcGISOAuthUserTokenInfo class
  • ArcGISUserInterfaceStyle enum
• ExaggerationFactor property has been added to ArcGISMapElevation class to support elevation exaggeration.
• MaterialReference property has been added to ArcGISMapElevation class to support user-defined material to render the map elevation.
• ArcGISOGC3DTilesLayer class has been added to support 3D tiles layers.
• ArcGISOGC3DTilesLayer enum value has been added to ArcGISLayerType enum.

• Authentication configuration settings have been updated on the ArcGISMap component under the Authentication section.
• An elevation exaggeration slider to adjust the exaggeration factor has been added to the ArcGISMap component under the Elevation section.
• Editor support for setting a map spatial reference has been added to the ArcGISMap component under the Spatial Reference section.
• Vertical coordinate system support has been added to various components (e.g. ArcGISMap, ArcGISCamera, etc) to whenever a location/position is involved.

• Authentication configuration settings have been updated on the Authentication tab in the Map Creator UI.
• An elevation exaggeration slider to adjust the exaggeration factor has been added to the Elevation tab in the Map Creator UI.
• Editor support for setting a map spatial reference has been added to the Map tab in the Map Creator UI.
• Vertical coordinate system support has been added to various places in the UI editor to set the vertical coordinate system spatial reference whenever a point or a location/position is involved.

• The Map Creator UI supports Light Mode, providing users with a visually consistent experience.

• The following events and classes have been removed in this release:
  • ArcGISAuthenticationChallengeIssuedEvent event
  • ArcGISAuthenticationConfiguration class
  • ArcGISOAuthAuthenticationConfiguration class
  • ArcGISOAuthAuthorizationCredential class
  • ArcGISOAuthAuthorizationCredentialIssuedEvent event

• Support for iOS/iPadOS 16 is deprecated. The last release to support this version is 2.0. A minimum of iOS/iPadOS 17 will be required at the next release.
• Support for Android 8 (API level 26) is deprecated. The last release to support this version is 2.0. A minimum of Android 9 (API level 28) will be required at the next release.
• Support for macOS Ventura (version 13) is deprecated. The last release to support this version is 2.0. A minimum of macOS Sonoma (version 14) will be required at the next release.

• ENH-000174769: Have OpenStreetMap (OSM) 3D Buildings Layer be able to display in a Local scene with the default basemaps.

• ENH-000164510: Add overview map feature (multimap support).

• BUG-000169955: Changes on the component not reflected in the Map Creator UI.

  Summary: After making changes to the component, the Map Creator UI does not automatically update with the new values.

  Workaround: Click a different tab in the Map Creator UI to pull the new values from the component.

• Question on Esri Community: Integrated mesh scene layer behind terrain relief is rendered with URP.

  Summary: When an integrated mesh scene layer is behind terrain such as behind a mountain, the layer is visible.

  Workaround: No workaround available.

• BUG-000169956: Custom basemaps disappear from the basemap gallery after entering the play mode.

  Summary: After adding custom basemaps from the Map Creator UI, click play once removes all custom basemaps that are not currently selected.

  Workaround: No workaround available.

• BUG-000169776: Custom basemap name will be lost after clicking play.

  Summary: The name for the custom basemap that is added from the Map Creator UI is automatically changed to User Basemap after clicking play.

  Workaround: No workaround available.

• BUG-000169957: Local file packages cannot be added from the ArcGIS Map component using the ellipsis menu (three dots icon).

  Summary: Adding local file packages from the ArcGIS Map component using the ellipsis menu does not add the file path to the Source field, and an InvalidOperationException: Stack empty message is logged in the Unity Console.

  Workaround: Set the file path manually in the Source field. For example: C:/Users/my_username/my_folder/example.slpk.

• Question on Esri Community: Collider offsets in rendered OSM 3D buildings.

  Summary: The collision mesh is not properly aligned with the corresponding rendered OSM 3D building, which can result in inaccurate collision detection or unexpected behavior when interacting with the 3D environment.

  Workaround: No workaround available.

• BUG-000175627: Unity crashes if reprojected outside of current extent.

  Summary: If you reproject the dataset (for example, change the WKID) while you have an extent enabled, and the extent is different from the WKID extent, Unity crashes.

  Workaround: Uncheck "enable extent", or have an extent that encompasses the extent of the spatial reference.

• BUG-000177450: 3D Tiles appear unlit and are not affected by light.

  Summary: 3D Tiles may appear dark during the day and overly bright at night due to not responding to light.

  Workaround: No workaround available.