If you’re prone to bouts of cabin fever, Google Earth VR might just be the perfect remedy.
HTC Vive owners can now soar above the Coliseum, grand canyon and Hoover dam in stunning virtual reality.
While the entire planet is available to experience in VR, it’s the 3D landmarks which look particularly immersive.
Like most VR experiences, users can move their head to get a different perspective, but Earth VR also makes the most of HTV Vive’s room-scale sensor, meaning viewers can walk around landmarks.
Andrey Doronichev, product manager for Google Earth, told the BBC: “I would love to visit every place on Earth, but the truth is that none of us will visit even the top 100 destinations. Earth gives you this chance to go and see them and pick and chose which places to go to in reality.”
Mike Podwal, VR Apps product manager, has told the Verge Google is “actively exploring support for other platforms”. But it won’t be making it’s way on to Google Cardboard or Daydream anytime soon. It needs more firepower than any smartphone can offer.