Google Cancels Plans On A Standalone VR Headset, Rumored To Be Working On AR/VR Headset Instead

(Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Google's new AR/VR headset is currently under development and it doesn't seem to have a release date yet.

Last Friday, it was reported that Google recently shut down plans of creating its own standalone virtual reality headset which would be akin to the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive, according to Recode.

Sources told Recode that Google nixed the standalone VR headset because the company wanted to streamline its other ambitious projects like its new effort on mobile VR.

The company released Daydream back in May, and it is a virtual relaity platform built into Android 7.0 Nougat. The company also showed a reference design for a new VR headset that's more advanced than Cardboard and will work specifically for Daydream.

Even though Recode reported that the standalone VR headset may have been cancelled by Google, it seems that the company hasn't abandoned the prospect of building a new headset.

Sources have indicated that Google has been assigning individuals to work on a new high-end headset that would combine virtual reality and augmented reality, according to Engadget.

The unnamed sources said that the new headset is currently in development, but the device will not need a computer or a smartphone in order for it to work.

The rumored device will come with a screen to view virtual reality content, but it will also feature more capabilities than the usual VR headsets by incorporating augmented reality.

Unlike most VR headsets, Google's standalone AR/VR device will not solely focus on gaming. As of now, the new hardware has no release date.

Microsoft is already working on HoloLens, an augmented reality headset that projects digital content in the real world. It also functions as a standalone computer and doesn't require a smartphone or a PC in order to work.

Google has already invested into the startup company Magic Leap that is also dedicated in creating "mixed reality" experiences similar to the HoloLens.

It remains unclear whether the new AR/VR headset will be part of Magic Leap, or if it will completely be a separate project.