Google announces Daydream, their new VR platform

Although Google jumped on the Virtual Reality bandwagon years ago with their clever (and cheap) Google Cardboard platform, the tech giant is now significantly stepping up their efforts.

The company has just announced Daydream, a "proper" VR headset made of plastic and other stuff, rather than materials normally used for packaging. Like their old Cardboard headsets and Samsung's Gear VR platform, Daydream uses your smartphone both as screen and as movement sensors.

Google will make a reference design for the headset as well as a controller, but other hardware makers will be free to build their own versions. As for what phones are supported, Samsung, HTC, LG, Huawei, Alcatel, ZTE, Xiaomi and Asus are all on board and will have Daydream-ready phones available when the headset launches this fall.

The controller design includes a curved touch surface similar to those found on the Steam Controller, as well as two physical buttons.

Ubisoft and EA are among the publishers who have signed on to make games for Daydream, and a variety of streaming services and content providers are also embracing the platform, including Netflix, Hulu and HBO.

No word on pricing yet, but the platform is supposed to be open for anyone to produce Daydream-enabled phones or even the headset itself. Daydream is scheduled to launch this fall, while the dev tools are available now. The VRTalks forum has more details.