This Is Google’s Next Big Move in Virtual Reality

Google on Wednesday announced a new virtual reality platform that will serve as the basis for the company’s mobile VR efforts moving forward.

Daydream, as it’s called, incorporates a new version of Google’s Android mobile operating system built with virtual reality in mind. Google is also working with Android hardware manufacturers to help make their next handsets “Daydream-ready,” the company says.

Clay Bavor, Google’s vice president of virtual reality, showed off new “reference designs” for a virtual reality headset and controller at the company’s annual I/O developer’s conference on Wednesday. However, Bavor stopped short of announcing new VR hardware for a commercial audience.

Bavor also said that Google has built versions of many of its popular apps, including YouTube and Street View, for Daydream.