Google has opened its gates and has invited every single developer out there to submit any app for the Daydream VR platform. However, the tech giant would not simply accept any app submitted for their VR platform. It has to be scrutinized and pass their long list of qualifications first before becoming part of the said platform.
When Google Daydream VR initially came out, it was only limited to a select group of developers, which included Jaunt, Lucid Sight, and Within. Games and apps from these developers were the first to be published in the VR platform.
Whoopee You can now publish Daydream apps on Google Play (https://t.co/AqG3UGKuxv) Opt-in on the Developer Console #AndroidDev #Daydream pic.twitter.com/L7uILmLpvh
— Genymotion (@Genymotion) January 26, 2017
This move is not surprising because Google has always opened its doors for every single developer to publish their apps so long as they meet requirements, much like that in the Android apps in the Play Store. But Google initially announced that in 2017, it will open up the VR platform for every single developer back when the Daydream VR platform made its debut.
However, before any developer can publish their apps on the Google Daydream VR platform, every single submission has to pass a certain level of quality, ensuring the VR experience does meet Google's standards. Thus, Google published a long list of requirements that developers should follow for the Daydream app.
Further, The Verge reported that Google requires developers to present unique assets for the VR app. This includes a VR icon, a 360-degree stereo photosphere to demonstrate what the app will be like when used, and also a Motion Intensity Rating. Above all, the app should meet all the "existing Google Play content policies."
Meanwhile, according to Digital Trends, Google also mandated that after a minimum of 30 min use, the app should not cause the smartphone to display a thermal warning. But there is a minor catch before the app submitted can be seen by every Daydream VR user.
The developer must first select the Google Daydream distribution program for the app to be discoverable on the Google Play VR version and the Daydream Home. This means that the developer agrees that the app will be reviewed and scrutinized for any violation of Google's guidelines. Other than this, every single app developer can actually submit and publish any VR app but it will only be seen in the non-VR Google Play Store.
Now that Google has expanded its reach for the Daydream VR platform, we should expect that more phone models will be compatible with the Daydream VR anytime soon. Also, a number of Daydream apps will be released to the public in no time.
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