Why Google Discontinued Cardboard VR

Since its founding in 1998, Google has remained on the forefront of technological innovation. Although it had humble beginnings as a search engine, it has since grown massively into every part from a navigational software to a net browser with its extremely distinctive Google Chrome, to an workplace suite and cell telephones too. In fact, alongside the way in which, a number of Google merchandise light into obscurity, amounting to a prolonged listing of misfires. Some of the fascinating is the digital actuality platform Google Cardboard, which launched in 2014 solely to be discontinued in 2021.

Google Cardboard was a quite easy product designed to make the enjoyable of VR as accessible as attainable. The setup contains a cardboard headset with glass lenses inside it. Within the entrance is a slot to put your smartphone, so you possibly can watch YouTube, play VR-enhanced video games, discover immersive VR-enabled maps, and extra. When the headsets have been out there at retail, they value a mere $15, making Cardboard an economical various to different rising VR merchandise of the time.

So, what was the explanation Google took it off the market and ended help for its accompanying software program? Merely put, curiosity within the product diminished. Regardless of delivery roughly 15 million Cardboard models world wide, utilization numbers dropped off dramatically. To not point out VR as an entire has struggled to discover a robust mainstream following since its greatest push within the 2010s, with Cardboard’s successor — Google Daydream — solely lasting from 2016 to 2019. Fortunately, for individuals who have already got it or are hoping to check out Cardboard, all hope is not misplaced.

Despite the fact that Google put an finish to Cardboard VR in 2021, it is not inconceivable to strive it out. In 2019, the corporate introduced that it was open sourcing the Google Cardboard software program growth package. “Whereas we have seen general utilization of Cardboard decline over time and we’re not actively growing the Google VR SDK, we nonetheless see constant utilization round leisure and training experiences … and wish to be certain that Cardboard’s no-frills, accessible-to-everyone method to VR stays out there,” wrote Google’s Jeffrey Chen, augmented actuality and digital actuality product supervisor.

Whereas it retains the software program itself alive, what is the level if you cannot use it? In spite of everything, it is not like you possibly can merely exit and purchase a Cardboard headset. The great factor about Google Cardboard is that its identify wasn’t chosen for no motive. The headsets are literally made out of cardboard, in order that’s the majority of what you may have to make one your self. Getting ahold of some moderately sturdy cardboard, velcro, magnets, a rubber band, and a few lenses is all you need to do. There are many instruction units on-line, like one on Instructables, that can assist you within the course of. Alternatively, you possibly can all the time purchase a headset secondhand as properly.

Google Cardboard could not go down as one of many greatest VR or AR flops of all time, but it surely wasn’t a extremely profitable endeavor both. It is no shock that the corporate let it go, however at the very least it will not be misplaced to time any time quickly.