Mozilla Adds Virtual Reality to its Firefox Browser

 Mozilla has decided to bring something new to its Firefox browser. The company has released a limited edition of Firefox that will support web-based virtual reality apps through Oculus Rift. Mozilla has said that it will try to release its Web Virtual Reality API through Google’s Cardboard. Mozilla will introduce this feature on the web through its Developer or Nightly editions.

The Web Virtual Reality will be an experimental API that will allow the connection to the browser to virtual reality headsets is easier. To the users downloading Firefox’s Developer or Nightly edition builds, you will also be required to download a separate add-on in order for your Oculus Rift headsets to work. In a blog post, Mozilla’s engineering director Vlad Vukicevic said the company is rapidly making improvements to both of the VR interfaces.
 
Previously, users and content creators had to download a separate build of Firefox. This one-off build usually lagged behind ongoing development. From now on, VR capabilities will be developed alongside other continuous Firefox improvements. While Firefox Nightly builds include core WebVR functionality, an additional add-on is needed to integrate with the Oculus Rift headset.
 
While VR support will be enabled in our Nightly and Developer Edition (Alpha) builds, it will currently be automatically disabled in Beta and Release builds. We’re still making rapid improvements and changes to both the VR interfaces and the necessary platform support pieces. Once WebVR is more complete, we’ll discuss shipping plans to our Beta and Release builds.

Along with the web browser updates, Mozilla will also be launching a new version of MozVR As of now, the site only hosts a how-to-guide to get Oculus Rift owners to know how to use Firefox’s new virtual reality capabilities.