Draft:Wonderland Engine

Wonderland Engine publicly launched in September 2020 as version 0.7.0{{Cite web |date=2020-09-29 |title=Release 0.7.0 |last=Hale |first=Jonathan |url=https://wonderlandengine.com/news/release-0.7.0/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Wonderland Engine |language=en}} with a subscription-based pricing model{{Cite web |date=2020-09-29 |title=Wonderland Engine Pricing Reveal |url=https://wonderlandengine.com/news/pricing-reasoning-and-choosing-a-license/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Wonderland Engine |language=en}} with a 30-day trial period.

In March 2021, Wonderland Engine switched to a royalty-based pricing model,{{Cite web |date=2021-03-01 |title=Wonderland Engine is now free |url=https://wonderlandengine.com/news/wonderland-engine-is-now-free/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Wonderland Engine |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-03-01 |title=WebXR Platform Wonderland Engine Moves to Free, Royalty-Based Model – VRFocus |url=https://www.vrfocus.com/2021/03/webxr-platform-wonderland-engine-moves-to-free-royalty-based-model/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301140555/https://www.vrfocus.com/2021/03/webxr-platform-wonderland-engine-moves-to-free-royalty-based-model/ |archive-date=1 March 2021 }} making the engine free to use for non-commercial use.

Wonderland Engine 1.0.0 was released in May 2023.{{Cite web |last1=Ffiske |first1=Tom |title=EXCLUSIVE: Wonderland Engine, a webXR development tool, is now live as version 1.0 |url=https://www.immersivewire.com/p/wonderland-version-1 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Immersive Wire |language=en}} The release introduced significant changes to the engine's JavaScript API, including a full rewrite to TypeScript.{{Cite web|date=2023-05-01 |last=Hale |first=Jonathan |title=Release 1.0.0 |url=https://wonderlandengine.com/news/release-1.0.0/ |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Wonderland Engine |language=en}}

In October 2023, VentureBeat reported that Wonderland GmbH and Robot Invader had "converted the first few levels of of the Meta Quest VR title Dead Secret Circle so that it can be played on the web".{{Cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=2023-10-18 |title=Wonderland and Robot Invader convert VR game to web and PC |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/wonderland-and-robot-invader-convert-vr-game-to-web-and-pc/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}}

In January 2025, Wonderland GmbH and Robot Invader merged to form a new company, Create Worlds. The merger combined Wonderland Engine's WebXR technology with Robot Invader's game development expertise. Wonderland Engine continues to be developed under the Create Worlds brand.

Wonderland Engine optimizes web-based 3D performance through advanced rendering algorithms like dynamic batching batching runtime, streaming textures, and asset compression.

• Dynamic Batching: Automatically groups draw calls to reduce CPU overhead, significantly improving frame rates in complex scenes.{{cite web|title=Wonderland Engine's Optimizations - Runtime Batching |url=https://wonderlandengine.com/about/optimizations/#runtime-batching |website=Wonderland Engine |date=10 November 2020 |access-date=2025-06-18}}{{cite web|title=Hyper-Optimizing 3D on the Web with the Wonderland Engine at 3D on the Web 2025| date=16 April 2025 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFxs-etplNY |access-date=2025-06-18 |publisher=The Khronos Group}}
• Texture Streaming: Streams high-resolution textures on demand to balance memory use and visual fidelity.
• TypeScript API: Fully typed engine API with comprehensive documentation and IntelliSense support for robust development workflows.
• Asset Optimization: Built-in tools for mesh simplification, texture compression to minimize bundle sizes and load times, and a custom binary format.{{cite web|title=Wonderland Engine's Optimizations - Loading time|website=Wonderland Engine |date=10 November 2020 |url=https://wonderlandengine.com/about/optimizations/#loading-time |access-date=2025-06-18}}

Several industry observers have reported on Wonderland Engine's performance optimizations and WebXR capabilities:

• ARPost called Wonderland Engine "simpler and more streamlined" for building web-based VR, AR, and 3D graphics applications, highlighting its potential to lower development barriers for WebXR experiences.{{cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Sarah |date=2023-05-09 |title=Wonderland Engine Is Here To Make WebXR Development Faster |url=https://arpost.co/2023/05/09/wonderland-engine-webxr-development/ |website=ARPost |access-date=18 June 2025}}
• Mixed-News noted that Wonderland Engine delivers high-resolution, high-frame-rate 3D, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality experiences directly in the browser, calling it "a small revolution for VR."{{cite web |last=Schneider |first=Martin |date=2024-06-03 |title=High-quality XR browser apps are finally a reality with the Wonderland Engine |url=https://mixed-news.com/en/high-quality-xr-browser-apps-are-finally-a-reality-with-the-wonderland-engine/ |website=Mixed-News |access-date=18 June 2025}}
• GamesBeat reported on the merger forming Create Worlds and quoted CEO Jonathan Hale on the engine's "fast loading times" and "native-like performance across devices."
• Immersive Wire's report of version 1.0 described the complete API rewrite in TypeScript and new integration tools (8th Wall, benchmarking) as significant advancements for web-based XR development.

In 2024, Missouri based creative agency "Paradowski Creative" won the Webby Awards' People's Voice Award{{cite web |title=The Escale Artist | The Webby Awards |url=https://winners.webbyawards.com/2024/ai-metaverse-virtual/metaverse-immersive-features/best-narrative-experience/285660/the-escape-artist |website=The Webby Awards |access-date=2025-06-21}} with their Wonderland Engine based{{cite web |last1=Kane |first1=James |title=Announcing Our Next Original WebXR Game, The Escape Aritst |url=https://paradowski.com/stories/announcing-next-original-game-escape-artist |website=Paradowski Creative Official Website |access-date=2025-06-21}} WebXR puzzle game "The Escape Artist".

{{reflist}}