HTC VIVE Announces Easy-to-Use Filmmaking Platform “Mars Engine” for Educators and Students
Designed for the classroom, Mars Engine simplifies virtual production, allowing novices and experts alike to make professional films without having to learn 3D creation tools
Taipei, Taiwan — HTC VIVE is proud to announce the upcoming launch of Mars Engine, an easy-to-use software platform designed to help educators teach the fundamentals of real-time VFX and green screen compositing with the VIVE Mars CamTrack virtual production system.
Developed in collaboration with teachers and training centers, Mars Engine removes the complexity of virtual production workflows by eliminating the need to learn 3D creation tools. It offers a streamlined, step-by-step interface that allows instructors and students to jump into real-time filmmaking—no prior experience required—and save tremendous time and energy in the process. “What once took roughly 100 hours to learn and apply can now be achieved in 20 minutes,” said Tim Wen, Marketing Director of HTC VIVE Mars. Now in public beta, Mars Engine allows users to effortlessly create scenes with their own GLB files. In the future, users will be able to generate realistic, depth-mapped scenes from image files alone.
Mars Engine is the latest addition to HTC’s Mars CamTrack virtual production system, transforming it into a turnkey, ready-to-go setup for educators. By combining the Mars Studio Kit with the Mars Engine software, HTC VIVE now offers a fully portable, classroom-friendly solution. It sets up in minutes and requires no soundstage or LED wall—making it easy to roll in, teach, and pack up all within a single class session. This means less time spent on setup, and more time on learning.
“Mars Engine was built to spark creativity and lower the barrier to entry for students exploring the world of real-time filmmaking,” said Wen. “We wanted to give educators a true turnkey solution—something that doesn’t just teach software, but encourages storytelling, collaboration, and technical agility. And this is just the beginning—later this year, we’ll be introducing powerful AI tools that simplify scene creation even further.”
Mars Engine will make its debut as a public beta at this year’s BILD convention, hosted by B&H. HTC will showcase the full Mars CamTrack system live at Booth #872 on June 17th and 18th. Attendees can participate in a hands-on VP challenge, “Creator in a Subway,” where they’ll step into a virtual subway environment and act out creative scenes—powered entirely by the Mars Studio Kit and Mars Engine.
The Mars CamTrack team is especially interested in connecting with educators who have no prior experience in virtual production but are passionate about introducing innovative technology to the classroom. BILD attendees are invited to visit the booth, explore the system firsthand, and discover how easy it is to bring real-time filmmaking directly to students.