Google recently pushed out Chrome 66, the latest update to the company’s web browser. Unbeknownst to the VR community, Google also quietly included WebVR integration for OpenVR-compatible headsets including Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Windows “Mixed Reality” VR headsets.

Although initial WebVR integration has been a part of beta versions of Chrome for about two years now on Android, the company has finally brought its WebVR functionality to the browser’s stable branch, at least for PC VR users running Windows 10.

First reported by The Verge highlighting the work of eagle-eyed Redditors this past week, the option is simple to turn on in Chrome for Window 10. Type in ‘chrome://flags‘ into the URL bar and toggle VR hardware support. Oculus users can simply toggle ‘Oculus hardware support’ to bypass the need for SteamVR.

image captured by Road to VR

WebVR is a set of APIs designed to power browser-based VR experiences. Available across several web browsers including Supermedium, Samsung Internet, and Mozilla Firefox, WebVR essentially delivers portable applications to VR headsets via the web with the emphasis on easy content consumption.

There are a numerous examples of web pages using WebVR; here are a few of our favorites to get you started:

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Scott Hayden
Well before the first modern XR products hit the market, Scott recognized the potential of the technology and set out to understand and document its growth. He has been professionally reporting on the space for nearly a decade as Editor at Road to VR, authoring more than 4,000 articles on the topic. Scott brings that seasoned insight to his reporting from major industry events across the globe.
  • Adrian Meredith

    Cool, only worked on firefox till now shall have to check out my app and see how it works

  • Firestorm185

    Turned it on but don’t see any oculus options on mine. Oh well. XD

    • Firestorm185

      Ok, so I have it turned on in flags, steamVR running, but the experiments wont detect that webvr is running…

  • I recommend https://webvr.directory for a list of sites to try with Chrome VR. We’ve tested all the sites there and ensure they work well in VR especially with 6DoF. Also has a much greater selection (~60 curated, hundreds to search from).

    Also, we’re the developers of the Supermedium browser listed above (available Steam/Oculus). Lets you browse all the VR sites without leaving the headset or fiddling with configs.

  • This Is Me

    I made a sample #VR enabled website using #360video content on #Viar . check it out.
    https://app.viar360.com/media?leaf=Ke8FGuDlEhduNu9unuZuruom&video_cmd=false&ui=true

  • impurekind

    How to I ACTUALLY use this on my RIft?

    Let’s say I have my headset on and the controllers in my hands: How to I use/activate anything to do with this whole webVR thing?

  • That’s a great news… I was tired of having to use Chromium

  • DanDei

    Activated all the stuff in the browser, but no idea how to actually make it use my HMD when I go to VR sites. It just displays the content on my monitor.
    Seems others here are similarly confused.
    -> maybe a good topic for another article/guide…??

  • Z1

    Will the PSVR also be compatible with this stuff? If so, will it actually read the head tracking?

  • Tesla

    youtube somehow does not work for me in 3d on odyssey+

  • SPARKY

    sick