Sony launches XYN spatial capture software suite for virtual production

Sony Electronics will release a spatial capture solution from its XYN brand in summer 2026, aimed at generating 3D computer graphics assets from real-world locations for use in virtual production.

The initial release consists of three software tools: XYN Spatial Scan Navi, a smartphone application for guiding capture sessions; XYN Spatial Scan, a cloud application that processes captured imagery into 3DCG assets; and XYN Spatial Renderer Plugin, a rendering tool for displaying those assets during production.

Sony announced the XYN brand in January 2025 as an integrated suite of software and hardware for spatial content creation. The spatial capture solution will be displayed at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas, April 19-22, at Sony’s booth C8401.

The solution is positioned for virtual production environments that use large LED walls and real-time rendering, a technique that has become common in film, television and commercial production for replacing green-screen compositing with in-camera backgrounds.

Sony said its generation algorithm reproduces reflections, surface gloss and distant-scene detail at resolutions intended to hold up when displayed at scale on LED panels. The system generates data compatible with HDR color management workflows, though Sony noted that HDR-optimized content generation is in beta as of the April 15, 2026, announcement.

The company said it plans to expand the solution beyond virtual production into gaming, animation, architecture, manufacturing, digital twins and cultural heritage archiving, with additional plugins and services for standard 3DCG tools and game engines.

XYN Spatial Scan Navi connects a Sony Alpha camera to a smartphone and uses augmented reality to indicate shooting positions and angles. The application displays a bird’s-eye view of the capture area and marks completed sections, allowing operators to track progress during a session.

The application controls camera settings and capture parameters based on the subject and records shooting information, lens data and camera metadata automatically. Sony said the automation is intended to allow operators without specialized spatial capture experience to produce usable source material. A list of compatible Alpha cameras and smartphones is available on the XYN website. The application will be available through the Apple App Store following an initial inquiry with Sony.

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XYN Spatial Scan processes captured imagery in the cloud, removing the need for a dedicated local production environment. The application accepts footage from standard mirrorless cameras, and the resulting data integrates with tools including Unreal Engine. Sony said combining the cloud application with Spatial Scan Navi and the Spatial Renderer Plugin produces a more integrated workflow when Alpha cameras are used throughout the process.

The XYN Spatial Renderer Plugin handles playback of the generated assets during virtual production shoots. Sony said the plugin maintains image quality on LED backgrounds regardless of camera distance or angle and supports HDR display. During a shoot, operators can adjust depth of field, match lighting between live subjects and LED backgrounds, apply color correction to specific areas of the background and overlay additional CG elements.

The plugin is compatible with Unreal Engine and with media servers and software including Disguise. It also integrates with Sony’s Virtual Production Tool Set, which handles pre-shoot simulations and color calibration between LED screen output and camera capture.