For a while now, it felt like Google was taking the lead on virtual reality (VR) on mobile with its Daydream platform, where the company attempted to create a unified platform of sorts amidst a bunch of other companies all trying to create their own VR devices. However, it seems that Google’s experiment with Daydream has finally come to an end.During Google’s presentation a couple of days ago when they announced their Pixel smartphones and other products, what was missing was any mention of Daydream. Now in a statement made to VentureBeat, Google has confirmed that they will be essentially winding things down on the Daydream front.
The statement reads, “We saw a lot of potential in smartphone VR — being able to use the smartphone you carry with you everywhere to power an immersive on-the-go experience. But over time we noticed some clear limitations constraining smartphone VR from being a viable long-term solution. Most notably, asking people to put their phone in a headset and lose access to the apps they use throughout the day causes immense friction.”
The company adds, “There also hasn’t been the broad consumer or developer adoption we had hoped, and we’ve seen decreasing usage over time of the Daydream View headset. So while we are no longer selling Daydream View or supporting Daydream on Pixel 4, the Daydream app and store will remain available for existing users.”
So, will anyone else be missing Google Daydream, or did you not even bother with it in the first place?
Filed in . Read more about Daydream, Google and Virtual Reality (VR). Source: thenextweb