Hunger Games & TOMS Shoes Tap Into New YouTube Virtual Reality Video Support

YouTube announced today that it now supports virtual reality (VR) videos on its Android App. The site also confirmed that all YouTube content can be viewed via Google Cardboard, a cardboard-crafted virtual reality device designed to be used with a smartphone.

According to the announcement, two brands are already taking advantage of the VR feature: Hunger Games and TOMS Shoes.

YouTube said users can view VR videos for the “Hunger Games Experience” or “TOMS Shoes Giving Trip” from their Android phones by tapping the Cardboard icon and placing the phone within a Google Cardboard device.

YouTube’s Google Cardboard Option

For creators, YouTube recommended Jump, Google’s 3D filming techonology, to film VR videos.

Here’s an example of a video filmed using Google’s Jump technology and viewed via Google Cardboard.

“VR video gives you a sense of depth as you look around in every direction. Near things look near, far things look far. So if you were excited about 360° videos, this is pretty freakin’ cool,” claims YouTube.

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Amy Gesenhues

Amy Gesenhues was a senior editor for Third Door Media, covering the latest news and updates for Marketing Land, Search Engine Land and MarTech Today. From 2009 to 2012, she was an award-winning syndicated columnist for a number of daily newspapers from New York to Texas. With more than ten years of marketing management experience, she has contributed to a variety of traditional and online publications, including MarketingProfs, SoftwareCEO, and Sales and Marketing Management Magazine. Read more of Amy's articles.