Google's VP of Virtual Reality, Clay Bavor, announced at the Vision Summit 2016 that Google and Unity will finally be adding native support for Google Cardboard devices to the engine. Along with Valve's announcement, this means that Unity now natively supports the Oculus Rift, SteamVR, Gear VR and PlayStation VR.
Google will also be releasing its Cardboard Design Lab app for free, which includes basic VR assets and code that can be used as a scaffolding for creating VR apps. This will be available for download on GitHub sometime before the Vision Summit concludes.
Bavor recently transitioned to his new VR role at Google from being the VP of Product, in a move that has Google consolidating efforts into a new phase of VR development. Google Cardboard has always been considered to be an entry-level VR solution, and reports indicate Google is moving to manufacture a new, plastic headset that will compete with the likes of Samsung's Gear VR. By releasing its Cardboard Design Lab, and adding Cardboard native support to Unity, Google is not only encouraging increased output for Cardboard as a platform, but readying this generation of VR developers for whatever the company may introduce next.
