Google may expand its virtual reality endeavors beyond Cardboard in 2016. The tech giant may not only be working on a VR headset, but may also have plans to integrate VR within the code of the Android operating system, the Financial Times reported Sunday.
The report backs up prior news, which indicates Google is hiring new staff for a VR division. Google’s current head of VR, Clay Bavor had plans to take on rival VR -- like Facebook and Oculus by making its new VR products compatible with even more Android handsets than can use Cardboard. “VR is too important and too powerful a medium to be accessible to only a few,” Bavor told Time in January.
The headset, likely called Android VR may be a product apart of Google’s Nexus program and may be showcased in May during Google I/O and announced in September, according to Financial Times. If Android VR is anything like Google’s primary intention for the Nexus program, we imagine the headset could be priced competitively against the many other handsets set to launch in 2016.
Consumers are anticipating the launch of the Oculus Rift, which will sell for $599, the HTC Vive, which is rumored to sell for $1500, and the PlayStation VR headset, which has not yet been announced or priced.
