Google releases test version YouTube VR app for HTC Vive

Google has released the beta of its YouTube VR app for Windows 10. According to the company, the app is optimized for the HTC Vive headset and should receive support for other headsets at a later stage.

Google has made the YouTube VR app available on Steam through Early Access. With the app, owners of VR glasses can watch regular and 360-degree videos from YouTube. The controls are not yet fully optimized for use with a headset.

In addition, there is officially only support for the HTC Vive. According to Google, support for other headsets will follow soon, such as the Oculus Rift and glasses based on Microsoft’s own Mixed Reality platform. In any case, the app will remain in beta throughout 2018. The system requirements are that a system has Windows 10 with at least a Core i5-6400, 8GB of ram, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 or AMD Radeon R9 Fury and 4GB of free storage space.

Early this year, the PlayStation 4 received improved support for viewing 360-degree videos via YouTube. The YouTube VR app for Android has been available as part of the Daydream platform since November last year. That app does not work on the Samsung Gear VR.