Google discontinues Daydream VR

Google’s Daydream, Android’s built-in virtual reality platform, is as good as dead. Following the company’s annual hardware event today, Google confirmed to VentureBeat that the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL do not support the VR platform. Furthermore, Google stopped selling the Daydream View headset today. There are also no plans to support Daydream in future Android devices, Pixel or otherwise. “We are no longer certifying new devices,” a Google spokesperson confirmed. The Daydream app and store will continue to function for now. When putting together our Pixel specs comparison post, we noticed that the Pixel 4 doesn’t support Daydream. On the Pixel 3 tech specs page, the AR/VR section states “Built for VR to work with Google Daydream View headset.” On the Pixel 4 tech specs page, however, the AR/VR section simply states “ARCore.” Furthermore, the buy button for the Daydream View on the Google Store now says “No longer available.” This should come as no surprise to anyone who has been following phone-based VR closely. Just like Google Cardboard before it, Google Daydream helped give VR a boost by giving smartphone owners a glimpse of the future. But mobile VR is dying as the industry shifts towards better and more powerful VR experiences.