Firefox Delivers 3D Gaming, Video Calls and File Sharing to the Web

Rich activities like games and video calls were some of the last remaining challenges to prove that the Web is a capable and powerful platform for complex tasks. We conquered these challenges as part of Mozilla’s mission to advance the Web as the platform for openness, innovation and opportunity for all.

Firefox allows developers to create amazing high-performance Web applications and enables video calls and file-sharing directly in the browser, all without the need for plugins or third-party software. What has been difficult to develop on the Web before is now much easier, faster and more fun.

Mozilla described a supercharged subset of JavaScript (asm.js) that enables developers to create high-intensity applications, like 3D games and photo processing, directly on the Web without having to install additional software or use plugins. Using the Emscripten cross-compiler, which can emit asm.js, it is possible to bring high-performance native applications, like games, to the Web.

Mozilla and Epic teamed up to demonstrate this with the Unreal Engine 3- it’s pretty amazing to see JavaScript perform at near native speed. Now developers have a low-cost solution to bring high performance games and applications to the Web with technologies like JavaScript, Emscripten and WebGL.

Firefox also enables Web applications to support video calls, voice calls and file sharing without the need to install additional software or use third-party plugins. With Web Real-Time Communications (WebRTC), it’s easy to integrate these features into Web apps with just a few lines of code so developers can create more rich and interactive websites for people to experience across browsers.

This technology makes it possible to place and receive video calls from a mobile or desktop browser or share live video, files and images with friends and family. Mozilla demonstrated this at Mobile World Congress, in partnership with Ericsson, to show how Firefox can integrate seamlessly with a users’ mobile phone and make voice or video calls and share files.  We are excited to see WebRTC in action with TokBox’s  OpenTok live video platform that enables countless developers and enterprises to create powerful and innovative live video applications. WebRTC opens up endless potential for future communications on the Web.

Mozilla is pushing the boundaries for what is possible on the Web today and proving the Web is the best development platform with advancements like these that improve interoperability and end fragmentation. We created BananaBread as a game demo built using all of these Web technologies Mozilla pioneered, including WebGL, Emscripten, asm.js and WebRTC, to show how you can deliver high-end 3D multiplayer games while still maintaining a fast and stunning experience.

We are excited about the possibilities that these new technologies bring to the Web and can’t wait to see what amazing experiences developers will create.