NEW YORK (AP) – Upcoming virtual-reality headsets based on Google’s new Daydream VR system won’t be as sophisticated as Facebook’s Oculus Rift.
But they could give more people a taste of VR and make better games and applications affordable.
On Wednesday, Google said it will develop a range of VR headsets that promise to be more comfortable and durable than its ultra-cheap Cardboard headset. Google will make one and share design guidelines with other manufacturers.
There will also be a wireless motion controller – functioning like a fishing rod, a steering wheel or a pointer – to permit more-sophisticated VR experiences.
Sophisticated systems such as the Rift and the HTC Vive are expensive, limiting their appeal to gamers and other tech enthusiasts. Alternatively, cheaper VR headsets that tap the power of smartphones are typically tied to one manufacturer’s phones, such as Samsung’s or LG’s.