Opera becomes First Web Browser to Support 360-Degree Videos in VR Headsets

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The newest Opera developer version that launched today for Linux, Mac, and Windows computers comes built-in with a VR 360 player feature that makes the Chromium-based web browser the first to support 360-degree videos in VR headsets.

Engineered to be compatible with popular virtual reality headsets like Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, the new VR 360 player is enabled by default and automatically detects an installed VR headset that supports Valve's OpenVR SDK and API. Of course, this means that the feature supports other OpenVR capable devices.

"When a user browses to a video, a button above the video (next to Opera’s video pop out button) labeled ‘Watch in VR’ will appear. One simple click will engulf the viewer into the 360-degree world offered by the video," explains Andrzej Czarnecki, Product Manager at Opera.

Opera says that they created VR playback directly into their web browser due to the limited software support offered to VR headset owners, which couldn't fully enjoy VR content and 360-degree videos. The new functionality implemented in the latest Opera 49 developer build lets them watch VR videos in their VR headsets.