Category: DayDream

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Google Daydream Apps to include J.K. Rowling Experience, Gunjack 2, Netflix, and More

Today at Google’s press event announcing the Pixel phone and Daydream View headset, the company detailed VR content on the way to the Daydream Android VR platform.

Along with Daydream VR apps and experiences we’ve seen previously, Google today announced a group of exciting content on the way to the platform. Release dates were not mentioned specifically, but we expect the content announced today to launch with the Daydream headset in November.

J.K. Rowling – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Google says they’ve been working with Warner Brothers on a Daydream VR experience based on J.K. Rowlings book/upcoming film located in the Harry Potter universe. The app will make use of the Daydream controller to put a wand in the hand of players who will encounter (you guessed it!) fantastic beasts.

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Gunjack 2 from CCP Games

Also headed to Daydream is Gunjack 2. Developed by CCP Games, the same studio behind the MMO Eve: Online and VR game Eve: Valkyrie, it’s the sequel to Eve: Gunjack, a VR turret shooter that first debuted on Samsung’s Gear VR headset. It isn’t clear yet if Gunjack 2 will be exclusive to Daydream or if it will also land on Gear VR and other platforms.

gunjack gear vr Laser

Netflix, HBO, and Hulu

Major streaming media platforms Netflix, HBO, and Hulu are all getting apps that allow their entire libraries to be view on Google’s Daydream View headset. Videos through these services will naturally be shown on a big virtual cinema screen, but opens the door to VR content to be streamed as well. Netflix and Hulu have already made appearances on Gear VR, though we’ve been patiently waiting for Netflix’s promised multiplayer functionality.

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Star Chart

Star Chart will let you explore an immersive map of the cosmos, allowing you to explore planets, stars, and constellations. This app has already been seen on Gear VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive.

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Google Apps – Movies, Photos, Street View, and YouTube

Many of Google’s core Android apps are also getting the Daydream treatment. Movies will allow users to watch rented or purchased videos on a virtual big screen. Photos will let users “relive memories in an immersive way,” focused on users own captured photos and videos. Street View will let users explore Google’s huge library of street level photography, including 150 curated tours of memorable places like the Taj Mahal.

Then there’s YouTube of course which will make the jump from Cardboard to Daydream with a higher-end experience. The Daydream YouTube app will allow exploration of the entire YouTube library and of course viewing of made-for-VR content. No other platforms have seen an official YouTube VR app up to this point.

daydream google apps

With the announcement of the Pixel Daydream-ready phone and Daydream View headset, Google is quickly gearing up for the Daydream launch coming in November.

The post Google Daydream Apps to include J.K. Rowling Experience, Gunjack 2, Netflix, and More appeared first on Road to VR.

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Bithell Games Announces EarthShape for Daydream

Google’s event today, ‘Made By Google’ didn’t disappoint in terms of virtual reality (VR) announcements. The Daydream View hardware has finally been revealed along with some of the videogames and apps that’ll be coming to the device. Adding to that has been Mike Bithell, a British indie videogame developer who’s been working on Volume: Coda for PlayStation VR. He’s now revealed EarthShape for Daydream.

As Bithell describes EarthShape in a Tumblr post:”It’s a game about the millennia spanning mission of the first astronaut to leave Earth and terraform the universe. A ‘StarSeeker’ joined by a plucky lander. Together, they’ll travel the universe planting flowers and kicking off life through a fun new gameplay mechanic.”

Earthshape image 1

The developer will be working with a team of veterans on the project including composer Russell Shaw (who composed the music for the Fable franchise), animator Tim Borrelli (Red Faction, Saints Row) plus several others. He’s also managed to get the vocals talents of Sue Perkins (The Great British Bake Off) to tell the story and lend her comedy talents as well.

No further detail’s on the project have been released other than a couple of screenshots, which showcase a unique, cartoony art style featuring the astronaut and the lunar pod.

Daydream will be launching in November for $79 USD in a slate colour. It going to be the first headset that’ll be available in other combinations with crimson and snow being launched at a later date. The event has also seen the reveal of Pixel, Google’s first smartphone that’s Daydream compatible. No other smartphones were unveiled at the event to be compatible.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Daydream and EarthShape, reporting back with any further announcements.

Earthshape image 2

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‘Harry Potter,’ ‘LEGO’ And More Coming Soon to Google’s Daydream View VR Headset

‘Harry Potter,’ ‘LEGO’ And More Coming Soon to Google’s Daydream View VR Headset

Today at Made by Google, the tech giant made a lot of announcements. A brand new phone named the Pixel, a VR headset called the Daydream View with a motion controller included, and a slew of AI and Google Assistant announcements all topped the list. One thing they didn’t discuss as much during the keynote presentation, however, is the specific lineup of apps that will be coming to Daydream. That’s where a recent blog entry from Google comes in.

In the GIF slideshow below of “Select Daydream Apps,” you’ll see a montage of screenshots related to various Daydream games and applications. Some of the primary ones that are most exciting include a VR experience for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a LEGO game called BrickHeadz, Gunjack 2: End of Shift (previously known as Gunjack Next,) and even a new Ubisoft VR game called Hungry Sharks. We don’t know much about these games yet, but expect to find out more details relatively soon.

You may need to click this for the GIF to play.

A short snippet of footage was shown for the Harry Potter experience, Gunjack 2 got a small spotlight as well, but then the rest of the show focused on non-gaming content, such as YouTube, and Hulu. The YouTube app will support not only playback for all 360-content on the video sharing site, but will also project all standard videos onto a virtual giant screen. You can even take to the streets in Google Streetview to get an up close tour of the world.

If you’re too lazy to watch the entire GIF slideshow above, you can scope out the full list of featured apps coming soon right here:

  • Danger Goat
  • EarthShape
  • Fantastic Beasts
  • Invasion!
  • Lego BrickHeadz
  • Relax VR
  • USA Today
  • Wonderglade
  • Action Bowling
  • Affected
  • Archer E. Bowman
  • Hello Mars
  • Hulu
  • Jaunt
  • Layers of Fear
  • VR Karts
  • The Arcslinger
  • Comisc Chef
  • DRIFT
  • Ubisoft’s Hungry Shark VR
  • Ocean Rift
  • Wall Street Journal
  • Sisters
  • Underworld: Overlord
  • Daydream Blue
  • Hunters Gate
  • Keep Talking and Nodoy Explodes
  • Mekorama
  • FrostBound
  • Gunjack 2: End of Shift
  • Loco Motors
  • NYT VR
  • Idea Space
  • PolyRunner
  • End Space

Worth noting is that many of those apps, such as Sisters, DRIFT, and VR Karts have popped up on Gear VR and other headsets. It’s reassuring to see Google pad out their content library with existing and proven games rather than simply trying to rely on exclusive content. There is also no official indication that any of the seemingly “exclusive” games such as Gunjack 2, Underworld: Overlord, Wonderglade, or even Harry Potter will remain as exclusives for an extended period of time.

As we find out more information about each of these games and apps, we’ll continue to deliver updates and details.

Update: End Space was added to the list of games coming soon above, as per notice from the game’s creator.

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Price and Launch Date Revealed for Google Daydream

Today’s ‘Made By Google’ event is underway with the company finally revealing its virtual reality (VR) plans in more detail. The Daydream head-mounted display (HMD) has been the big new expected, ever since the company first teased details back in May at Google I/O. At that point in time only a drawing of the supposed design was revealed, but today the hardware has finally been revealed. Alongside the unveiling of the hardware Google has announced what Daydream will cost was well as the launch date.

The Daydream HMD will be made available in November 2016, just in time for the festive season. It’ll be priced at $79 USD, for the headset, excluding the smartphone needed to use the device. Making the announcement was Clay Bavor, who showcased what the HMD would finally look like. That price is the one VRFocus reported on earlier today but the November release doesn’t nail down an actual date. It’s the same month that NetEase accidentally revealed back in May when the developer confirmed support of Daydream.

GoogleDaydream-Reveal2

Further details are also incoming regarding Daydream’s software support. The Google I/O conference unveiled several studios work on compatible experiences including CCP Games with Gunjack NEXT and Resolutions Games with Wonderglade.

Google has announced Pixel and its long been known that ZTE’s Axon 7 and Zenfone 3 Deluxe have been officially certified with HTC, Samsung, LG, Huawei and Alcatel all previously confirming support.

The next few weeks are setting 2016 up to close with a bang for the VR industry. Along with the Daydream announcement today, later this week is Oculus Connect 3 which will feature Oculus Touch. The long awaited motion controllers should be getting an official price and release date which Oculus has always said would be Fall 2016. Then there’s the little matter of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) PlayStation VR which arrives next week on 13th October. Pre-orders for the headset sold out fast even with several phases of stock allocations for retailers.

As ever, keep reading VRFocus for all the latest VR news from around the world.

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Google Announces Daydream ‘View’ VR Headset for $79

Google today unveiled its first Daydream headset called ‘View’, a high-quality mobile VR headset that works exclusively with Android’s integrated VR support.

Google announced several big hardware bits this morning at its ‘Made By Google’ hardware event including the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones, a 4K Chromecast, and the VR belle of the ball, the company’s first Daydream VR headset.

daydream-view-3 daydream-view-2 daydream-view-1

The headset is called View and aims to being a touch of comfort to the VR experience. The device works with Daydream certified phones, connects and syncs with your phone wirelessly (no connectors) and uses auto alignment to allow quick and seamless entry and exit from VR.

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Clay Bavor, lead of Google’s VR team, stated that the team took a look at other VR headsets that were out there and decided that for their entry, the look and feel should not only be comfortable, but “simple, friendlier, and more accessible.” This lead to the headset’s unconventional, fabric covered design that Clay said looks more like something you’d wear in every day life.

Glasses wearers can also rejoice, as Bavor announced the View “fits nicely over eyeglasses.”

The headset will arrive in three colors; slate, snow, and crimson.

google-daydream-view

SEE ALSO
Google Announces First Daydream-Ready VR Phone - Breaking

The headset was announced alongside’s Google’s new flagship phone Pixel, which was pushed as the perfect partner for VR. Pixel represents the company’s first Daydream ‘certified’ phone.

The headset ships with the Daydream controller in November for $79.

This story is breaking – we’ll add more information as we find it.

The post Google Announces Daydream ‘View’ VR Headset for $79 appeared first on Road to VR.

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Google’s VR Headset Is Daydream View

Google’s VR Headset Is Daydream View

Following the reveal of the Daydream mobile VR ecosystem earlier in the year, Google has finally revealed the first headset to support it, Daydream View. The headset comes with a controller and launches in November for $79.

The new device was revealed at the Made By Google conference in San Francisco today. As expected, Daydream View will run with any Daydream ready smartphone. That includes the two new smartphones Google itself revealed at the event – Pixel and the larger Pixel XL for $649. They feature HD AMOLED displays Qualcomm 821 Snapgradon Quardcore processors, and 4GB RAM. The only real difference between the two is size; the original is 5 inches, while the XL is 5.5 inches. Impressively, View connects to these phones wirelessly.

The headset is wrapped in fiber that comes in different colors, and offers a “nice field of view” though specifics are thin on the ground right now. Google claims it’s 30% lighter than similar headsets (read: Gear VR). Outside of the US, the kit costs $99 in Canada, £69 in the UK, €69 in Germany, and $199 in Australia.

View also comes with a motion controller that’s closer in function to Nintendo’s Wii remote than it is an Oculus Touch or HTC Vive controller. It’s still incredibly accurate, though, and sturdy to; Google’s Clay Bavor accidentally dropped the device and it didn’t break. When you’re not using the headset, the controller tucks inside where the phone usually goes.

Several new experiences were announced for the device. They include a Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them game, based on J.K. Rowling’s book and upcoming movie set in the Harry Potter universe. CCP Games also confirmed Gunjack 2 using the new controller. Star Chart is also heading to the headset. Classic Google apps like Street View and YouTube will also be compatible.

The HBO and Netflix VR apps will also be heading to the platform, as will the New York Times’ VR experiences.

More to come…

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Google Announces First Daydream-Ready VR Phone – Breaking

Google today announced the first Daydream-ready smartphone(s), Pixel and Pixel XL.

Already widely leaked across the Internet, the new Pixel line is replacing the company’s Nexus handsets, now incorporating more graphical horsepower, sleeker styling, and a price tag to match—all rumored well in advance.

pixel-google-phone

Brian Rakowski, VP Product Management at Google, showed off Pixel’s hardware on stage boasting a Snapdragon 821, AMOLED capacitive touchscreen on both phones, 5-inch for Pixel and 5.5-inch for Pixel XL.

Clay Bavor, head of Google’s VR team, maintains the company has “tuned everything from their sensors to their displays” for the VR-capable Pixel.

pixel-daydream-google

Built by HTC, Google Pixel smartphones are available for pre-order today across USA, Australia, Canada, Germany, UK starting at $649. Google is bringing Pixel to market exclusively in partnership with Verizon in the US.

Unlike its little brother Cardboard, which allows almost any smartphone with an IMU to join in the VR fun, Daydream VR (like Samsung Gear VR) is considered a high-quality VR experience that uses a variety of flagship-level smartphones as a display.

Google previously mentioned the following manufacturers would be producing Daydream-compatible phones: Hauwei, Samsung, HTC, LG, Mi, ZTE, Asus and Alcatel. No specific phones besides Pixel were announced for the Daydream platform at this point.

This story is breaking. We’ll be updating as more information comes in. 

The post Google Announces First Daydream-Ready VR Phone – Breaking appeared first on Road to VR.

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Watch: Google’s Live Event Here – Daydream VR Hardware Unveiling Expected

Daydream VR, Google’s high-end VR platform for select Android smartphones, may be seeing its time in the spotlight at the company’s hardware-focused event today. Although Google hasn’t said specifically whether Daydream will be making an appearance, you’d better watch to find out.

Note: Live stream video is embedded at the top of the page and will start at 9am PST / 5pm GMT.

Poised to become the second most widespread VR device on the planet—after the humble Google Cardboard, that is—specifics around Daydream are still thin.

daydream-headset
image courtesy of Google

From Google I/O 2016 we know that older Android devices aren’t likely to qualify for Daydream, and that manufacturers including Hauwei, Samsung, HTC, LG, Mi, ZTE, Asus and Alcatel have been tapped to produce Daydream-compatible phones.

With the SDK already out of beta, there’s no foreseeable time better than today to announce Daydream, even if rumors are already bubbling around the price and manufacturer of the first headset. According to Variety’s sources, both Pixel and Pixel XL phones will work with the new headset possibly manufactured by HTC, and it could go for as little as $79.

Google’s Daydream microsite only says thus far that the high quality VR platform is coming in fall 2016.

The post Watch: Google’s Live Event Here – Daydream VR Hardware Unveiling Expected appeared first on Road to VR.

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Google Daydream VR Headset Rumored to Unveil Today for $79

Google is set to unveil a number of new devices and services at today’s big event, mainly focusing on the Pixel and Pixel XL phones (which have already been widely leaked). According to a report by Variety though, Google’s new mobile VR headset platform Daydream is going to hit the spotlight as well, and at a price low enough to fit under almost any Christmas tree.

Variety’s report maintains that both Pixel and Pixel XL phones will work with the new Daydream headset—no big surprise here—but citing a source familiar with the announcement “could be sold for as little as $79.”

Variety further reports that the first Daydream headset may also be built by HTC, the manufacturer of the Pixel and Pixel XL.

Revealed at Google’s I/O 2016 event, Brahim Elbouchikhi, Senior Product Manager on the Google VR team, said the company intends on pushing out Daydream “at Android scale, meaning hundreds of millions of users…”

Daydream headset Daydream controller

Daydream, unlike Samsung’s Gear VR which uses a headset-mounted touchpad, will come with a small Wii-style remote for gestural input and work across a number of Daydream-compatible phones from multiple manufacturers including Hauwei, Samsung, HTC, LG, Mi, ZTE, Asus and Alcatel. Gear VR only works with select flagship Samsung phones.

While we can’t read too deeply into the report, Google has provided their Daydream headsets reference design to multiple manufacturers, and it would make sense that a company already familiar with headset ergonomics (via the HTC Vive) would be one of the first to take a stab at building Google’s Daydream headset set to unveil today.

You can check out the livestream (below) at 9am PDT/12pm EDT today, Tuesday, October 4th. We’ll be reporting on all things Daydream as they develop.

The post Google Daydream VR Headset Rumored to Unveil Today for $79 appeared first on Road to VR.

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Google Daydream: Headset soll 79 US-Dollar kosten und kommt von HTC

Um 18 Uhr wird Google seine neuen Smartphones mit den Namen Pixel und Pixel XL vorstellen. Diese Smartphones werden Daydream Ready sein und daher wird Google wohl auch ein eigenes Daydream Headset vorstellen. Nach aktuellen Gerüchten soll das Daydream Headset von Google 79 US-Dollar kosten und wird von HTC hergestellt.

Headset soll 79 US-Dollar kosten

Google Daydream Headset und Controller

Google Referenzdesign VR-Brille & Controller

Wie variety berichtet, sollen einige Quellen den Preis bereits bestätigt haben. Der Preis klingt auch durchaus realistisch, denn das Daydream Headset wird auch mit einem Controller ausgeliefert, welcher zwar nicht im Raum erfasst wird, aber dessen Bewegungen an das Smartphone weitergegeben werden. Google möchte mit Daydream hochwertige Virtual Reality Erfahrungen an eine große Anzahl von Nutzern bringen und somit der Samsung Gear VR Konkurrenz machen. Google möchte sich bei Daydream aber nicht auf die eigenen Geräte beschränken. So dürfen auch andere Hersteller Daydream Headsets produzieren und ihre Smartphones Daydream Ready gestalten.

HTC soll das Daydream Headset von Google produzieren. Dies ist auch nicht abwegig, da HTC ebenfalls das Pixel und das Pixel XL Smartphone produzieren soll.

Doch auch wenn alles nach Fakten klingt, so haben wir erste am Abend Gewissheit. Um 18 Uhr startet Google seine Vorstellung und ihr könnt live zuschauen. Hier findet ihr den Stream:

Neben Daydream und Pixel wird auch ein neuer 4K Chromecast, das neue Betriebssystem Andromeda und Google Home erwartet. Zudem könnte Google auch neue Tablets zeigen. Wir sind gespannt.

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