Mobile VR games and apps boosted by Qualcomm SDK for Snapdragon 820 devices

Qualcomm Technologies has introduced a new virtual reality software development kit (SDK) for its Snapdragon 820 chipset. The Snapdragon VR SDK will allow developers to create VR apps for mobile devices and virtual reality headsets containing Qualcomm's latest processor.

According to the chipset maker, its new VR SDK offers a set of "advanced" tools that simplify the process of developing virtual reality apps for the Snapdragon 820 platform and allows them to run at optimal performance. As a result, developers can greatly improve the virtual reality experience in games, 360-degree video and other interactive VR applications, Qualcomm said.

The Snapdragon VR SDK allows developers to integrate their apps with Qualcomm's Symphony System Manager SDK, which offers power and performance management for device CPU, GPU, and digital signal processor (DSP). This is particularly important for applications running in thermally-constrained devices like smartphones and will enable VR apps to achieve stable frame rates while running in low-power.

Also included in the SDK is Qualcomm's Hexagon DSP, which will enable developers to combine movement data from a device's gyroscopes and accelerometers for more accurate head positioning prediction, as well as single buffer rendering for reduced latency, stereoscopic rendering for improved visual quality of graphics and video, and VR layering for text and menus.

The Snapdragon VR SDK will be released via Qualcomm's Developer Network in Q2 2016. Dave Durnil, senior director of engineering, Qualcomm Technologies, said: "We're providing advanced tools and technologies to help developers significantly improve the virtual reality experience for applications like games, 360 degree VR videos and a variety of interactive education and entertainment applications.

"VR represents a new paradigm for how we interact with the world, and we're excited to help mobile VR developers more efficiently deliver compelling and high-quality experiences on upcoming Snapdragon 820 VR-capable Android smartphones and headsets."