Optimizing XR Performance - Navigating the Texture Compression Landscape

Texture bandwidth and memory remain critical constraints for XR experiences across web, mobile, and native platforms. At the same time, creators must navigate a fragmented texture compression landscape spanning GPU- and platform-specific formats such as ASTC, BCn/DXTn, and ETC2 as well as emerging neural compression techniques. This panel will explore how teams can navigate compression tradeoffs while maintaining performance, visual quality, and portability. We’ll discuss compression decision points along the modern XR pipeline across engines and runtimes, and explore how to effectively manage multiple compression targets. We’ll also take a look at how container formats such as KTX 2.0 fit into the modern content pipeline enabling scalable delivery of multiple compression formats and allowing teams to deploy high-performance, portable textures even as new formats and hardware capabilities emerge.