Galaxy S8 And S8+ Daydream Support Arrives: Update Rolling Out Now

If you have the Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+, you can now pop it into Google's Daydream View headset and use it to watch or play virtual reality content. Google announced the new support today, saying that a software update is rolling out to handsets now that brings support. Some Galaxy S8 owners started seeing this support arrive last week before the official announcement was made, but some users still aren't seeing it, and Google says that those users will need to wait a bit longer.

The Galaxy S8 and S8+ now shows up front and center on the Daydream website as one of the platform's supported handsets. A post on Google+ by the Google VR team advised that the update was going out, and the same is true for a tweet. The update is rolling out now, but Google advises that some users may not be seeing it yet.

Once the update arrives on your own S8, you'll be able to use Google's Daydream VR platform including the Daydream View headset. The Daydream headset is recognizable due to its fabric-based design; there's a related Daydream controller shaped something like a remote, enabling users to play games and otherwise interact with the VR world.

The headset is currently being offered on the Daydream website for $59, which is cheaper than the unit's typical $79 price tag. A bunch of content is available for the platform, including games like 'Virtual Rabbids,' 'Hungry Shark VR,' 'Virtual Virtual Reality,' and 'Eclipse: Edge of Light.'

This, of course, is different than standalone VR, which doesn't require a smartphone to enjoy the VR experiences. Google recently announced plans to launch a standalone VR experience via headsets that won't require a phone or tethered PC to work. This will be made possible via a new type of technology called WorldSense that can detect the user's movements. Google has tapped both Lenovo and HTC as part of this project.

SOURCE: Google+