La virtual reality on Android mobiles It has experienced a rollercoaster of hype, promises and, ultimately, abandonment. Daydream for VR gaming on Android It was Google's big bet to bring quality VR experiences to any compatible smartphone, and for a while it seemed like the future lay in that direction. Today, however, we talk more about what could have been than what is, especially if you're thinking about using it. Daydream for VR gaming on Android or revive your glasses with a modern mobile phone.
Even so, the ecosystem that grew around Daydream, third-party solutions like iVRy for connecting mobile devices to PCs, and the experiences of those who used these glasses remain very interesting. In this article, we'll review them. What exactly was Daydream, what do you need to play VR games on Android, and what alternatives and tricks still exist? And why do so many users feel they've been left with a big pile of plastic gathering dust in a drawer?
What was Daydream and what did it promise for Android?
Daydream was introduced by Google as its platform for high-quality mobile virtual realityA clear evolution from the simple Cardboard. It wasn't just a pair of glasses with a phone slot: it was a complete ecosystem with VR mode integrated into Android, a specific headset and a controller with motion sensors to make the experience much more immersive.
The heart of the proposal was the new Android virtual reality mode (Initially designed for Android N), optimized for rendering graphics with high refresh rates and low latency. Google wanted compatible mobile devices to be able to handle complex scenes at a good frame rate and with stable motion tracking, avoiding the typical issues of more basic VR solutions.
To achieve this, Daydream relied on the power of high-end smartphones and improvements to graphics performance with APIs like VulkanThe phone acted as the brain of the entire system. The idea was to offer a more serious VR experience than Cardboard, but without the cost or complexity of a PC-connected headset like the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive.
In addition to the Daydream View headset, Google placed a lot of emphasis on its Wireless controller with position and motion trackingUnlike other systems, this remote control promised to detect gestures without the need to install external cameras or additional sensors in the room, which greatly simplified its use in the living room.
The other key component was the software: Daydream Home, a kind of central hub from which to access apps, games and 360 contentGoogle announced agreements with major names such as HBO, Netflix, NBA, Imax, Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft, along with its own VR-adapted apps: Google Play Movies, Google Photos, Street View, and a completely rebuilt version of YouTube designed to work inside the headset.
Hardware requirements and compatible mobile devices for Daydream
One of Google's main objectives was to maintain the Full mobility and a relatively affordable priceThat's why Daydream was completely dependent on a compatible Android phone. It wasn't a standalone headset, but an accessory that needed a certified mobile phone to function correctly in VR mode.
From the stage, officials like Clay Bavor emphasized that they were working with the High-end brands from manufacturers like Samsung, HTC, Google, Xiaomi, Huawei, ZTE, Asus, or AlcatelThe idea was that many future flagship phones could receive the “Daydream ready” label as long as they met the minimum requirements for screen, power, and sensors.
In practice, the official list of certified phones fell quite short and, over time, became stagnant. Among the last models recognized by Google were: the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, the Galaxy Note 8, the Huawei Mate 9 Pro, and the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XLIt is striking that not a single new smartphone certified for Daydream appeared in 2019.
This made it clear that, although on paper Daydream aspired to be a reference mobile virtual reality standardIn practice, real support from manufacturers and even Google itself was starting to slow down. Compatibility was becoming increasingly limited, and users interested in VR had to stick to just a few specific models.
In parallel, the Daydream View headset itself was conceived as a product for the mass marketWith comfortable materials, a lightweight design, and a price point aimed at a broad audience, its reliance on specific mobile phones and a platform that was beginning to show signs of neglect ultimately worked against it in the medium term.
Daydream for VR gaming on Android and available experiences
During its active phase, Daydream presented itself as a relatively affordable way to play VR games on Android and enjoy all kinds of immersive experiences. The catalog included games as well as video, exploration, and entertainment applications developed by top-tier partners.
Regarding multimedia consumption, we found services such as HBO, Netflix, NBA or Imax adapted to the Daydream environment, allowing content to be viewed on giant virtual screens or in 360 environments. There were also interactive experiences and games created by major publishers such as Electronic Arts or Ubisoft, taking advantage of the controller with motion sensors to aim, throw objects or interact with the virtual environment.
Within Google's own ecosystem, the company worked extensively on its applications to ensure they fit well in the VR environment. Google Play Movies, Google Photos, Street View and YouTube They received specific versions for Daydream, integrated into Daydream Home and accessible from the main hub.
The new YouTube app on Daydream was especially important: Google rebuilt from scratch for use in virtual realitypaying close attention to both video presentation and surround sound. Interestingly, it wasn't limited to 360-degree videos; it also allowed users to watch traditional videos in a virtual room, including live streams, completely changing the experience of "watching YouTube" on a mobile device.
Furthermore, many of the third-party apps and VR experiences that worked on Daydream They could also be found as standalone apps on Google Play. This made it possible to continue enjoying them on devices where the platform was still operational, although over the years that compatibility has diminished and it doesn't always work as it once did.
The role of iVRy: using Android/Daydream as a headset for SteamVR
While Daydream was trying to establish itself in the mobile VR field, a very interesting type of solution appeared for those who wanted to go a step further: using its Android mobile or Daydream headset as a PC gaming headset on SteamVROne of the best-known proposals in this field is iVRy.
iVRy (Android/Daydream Edition) is an application designed for Android devices and Daydream headsets that functions as virtual reality driver compatible with SteamVRIn other words, it allows your phone or Daydream headset to behave like a PC VR headset connected to a computer running Steam.
To make it easier for everyone to install the app, a DLC was released on Steam called iVRy for SteamVR (Android/Daydream App Installer)This add-on acts as an installer for the Google Play version of iVRy for Android or Daydream, intended for cases where, for whatever reason, it is not possible to download the app directly from the Google store.
With iVRy and an Android device or a Daydream headset you can play virtual reality titles for PC without needing to buy another dedicated headset. It supports wired USB connections, which offer higher image quality and better performance, and also wireless WiFi connections for greater mobility, sacrificing some stability compared to a wired connection.
The system automatically adjusts the visual quality to maintain stable frame rates It supports various connection types and offers manual configuration options so users can prioritize quality or performance based on their equipment. Furthermore, it integrates directly with SteamVR without requiring additional managers or external servers for communication to work.
iVRy compatibility and differences between editions
One of the advantages of iVRy is its Compatible with most titles designed for HTC Vive and Oculus Riftprovided they run on SteamVR. For games originally designed for Oculus Rift, SteamVR, Oculus Home, and the third-party software LibreVR Revive are required to bridge the gap and allow them to run through Valve's ecosystem.
The integration of iVRy with SteamVR even includes a overlay in the SteamVR Dashboard This allows you to modify driver settings directly from within the virtual reality environment, without having to switch to the desktop. This makes it much easier to adjust parameters mid-game or when you notice that the performance isn't as expected.
Regarding advanced motion tracking, iVRy includes built-in support for NoloVR, which offers 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) tracking and motion controllersIn this way, the use of the mobile phone or the Daydream visor can be complemented with an external system that adds full body positioning in space, bringing it closer to the experience of a dedicated helmet.
The application is offered in two main variants: the “Lite” edition and “Premium” editionThe Lite version includes all the features of the Premium version, but with one important limitation: after more than five minutes of connection, it begins to reduce the image's color saturation. This serves as a reminder that it's a version with restrictions.
To eliminate this limitation and enjoy long VR gaming sessions with the best visual quality, it is necessary Upgrade to the Premium Edition via a paid DLC on SteamThe iVRy for SteamVR installer (Android/Daydream App Installer) itself takes care of facilitating this process and ensuring that the correct mobile app is installed correctly.
The beginning of the end: how and why Google killed Daydream
Daydream's story changed radically from 2019 onwards. By October of that year, many signs already pointed to the fact that Google was ending its mobile virtual reality ventureOne of the key blows was that the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL arrived on the market without Daydream support, breaking the logic of continuity within the company's own family of phones.
Almost at the same time, Google They removed the Daydream View glasses from their official store.This effectively meant they stopped selling the platform's core hardware. Adding to the problem was another important detail: no new smartphones had been certified as Daydream-compatible for some time, and 2019 ended without a single phone released that year receiving the certification.
The decline was also noticeable in terms of content. Platforms like HBO and Hulu stopped supporting Daydream in 2019reducing the number of premium video apps available. Gradually, the feeling was that both content partners and Google itself were moving away from this approach.
The company acknowledged that smartphone-based virtual reality had obstacles that are difficult to overcome in the long termA spokesperson explained that asking people to put their phones in VR headsets and temporarily give up access to the apps they use all day creates enormous friction. Many users are unwilling to isolate their phones, even for a short time, just to use VR.
On a technical level, although Google saw potential in the technology, the limitations of power, battery life, and ergonomics of mobile phones made it difficult to achieve a comfortable, stable and truly immersive experience in a sustained manner. In the end, the balance tipped towards dedicated solutions or augmented reality, leaving Daydream without a clear place in the strategy.
Android 11 and the official death of Daydream VR
If 2019 was the beginning of the end, 2020 marked the definitive closing of the chapter. With the arrival of Android 11, Google clearly confirmed that Daydream VR was officially no longer supportedThe platform's support page specifies that the Daydream VR software is no longer supported and that no further feature, security, or bug fix updates will be released.
Google explains that some users may still be able to access the service on older devicesHowever, it warns that Daydream may stop working correctly on phones running Android 11 or later. This makes the experience very unstable and, in many cases, completely inaccessible.
The app itself is needed to configure the Daydream headset and controller. stopped receiving supportThis affects both the initial setup and the ongoing operation of the ecosystem. Although the Daydream View headset and its controller can theoretically still be used to consume VR content, the lack of official support and the removal of the app are making things increasingly complicated.
Google clarifies that many of the third-party applications and experiences that were offered within Daydream They may still be available as standalone apps on Google Play. In other words, if your device is still running a compatible older version of Android, you may still be able to use some of that content, although without the integrated Daydream Home experience.
In any case, the reality is that Daydream is no longer part of the official Android roadmapAnd with the platform's evolution towards other technologies, the abandonment is complete. The hardware still exists, but the software support, which was the key component, has been diluted to the point of being practically nonexistent.
User frustration: VR headsets and phones "dead"
Google's decision (and also that of other companies like Meta in the case of VR Gear) has left many users with the feeling that They've been left with expensive hardware that's been turned into scrap.A typical example is that of those who have a perfectly functional and powerful Samsung Galaxy S9, along with headsets like Gear VR and second-generation Daydream.
In some cases, system updates recommended by the manufacturer, such as the move to Android 11 via an official Samsung OTA updateThey have ended up cutting compatibility with Daydream. To make matters worse, many brands prevent users from reverting to previous versions of the system (rollbacks), leaving them stuck on a new version that prevents them from using their VR headsets.
The most frustrating thing is that, technically, on many devices the Lack of support is reduced to changes in permissions or the artificial deactivation of certain functions In the Daydream app, the issue is more due to hardware limitations than physical limitations. This is why many consider it unfair that the platform isn't open to community support through patches and independent development.
Something similar has happened with Gear VR: although it still appears on some official lists, the Oculus mobile app has stopped allowing login with new Meta/Oculus accountsThis causes expired session errors or an inability to validate credentials. This renders the viewer unusable for many users, even though the phone and glasses remain in perfect working order.
Among those who enjoyed these mobile VR solutions, there are numerous accounts of very diverse uses: Visit cities with Street View, watch sporting events, explore 360 views of remote locations or simply to spend some time playing light games. It wasn't something they used daily, but it was a resource they valued having on hand for specific moments, and with the disappearance of the support they feel it has been unnecessarily lost.
What can you still do today with Daydream and Android
Despite the official withdrawal, there is still room to take advantage of Daydream is already compatible with Android phones, especially if they haven't been updated to Android 11 or later.In those cases, the Daydream app may still work and you may be able to access some of the app catalog that is still available on Google Play.
On older devices where the software is still operational, Daydream View glasses allow continue watching virtual reality contentWhether it's in 360 video apps, some interactive experiences, or games that remain available, there will be fewer and fewer developers updating their apps to support abandoned platforms over time.
Another way to leverage hardware is through solutions like iVRy, which do not depend on Daydream as an ecosystembut rather the Android phone itself as a screen and tracking system. With these, you can turn your phone into a PC VR headset via SteamVR, either by USB cable or Wi-Fi, regardless of whether Daydream is still active or not.
It is also possible that the community will keep the hardware alive through Custom ROMs, unofficial apps, and patches These methods reactivate features disabled by Google or the manufacturer. However, this requires a certain level of technical knowledge and carries risks, so it's not a suitable solution for everyone.
What seems clear is that the "putting the phone in glasses" approach has lost ground to standalone headsets and more integrated VR solutionswhich do not depend on the evolution of Android in each brand or on whether large companies decide to continue offering support on their mobiles.
Even with all its limitations and its abrupt end, Daydream and VR games on Android left a curious legacy: they demonstrated that, for a time, A simple smartphone could serve as a gateway to quite decent virtual reality experiences.and paved the way for experiments and services like iVRy, which have been able to take advantage of that same concept to connect it with the world of VR on PC.
