FORMATS EXPLAINED
2D, 3D, 180° and 360°: choose your experience
“Watch in VR” can describe several different things. Look for an exact format description rather than assuming every headset video surrounds you.
2D on a virtual screen
You see a conventional rectangular picture inside a virtual environment. You might be sitting in a simulated cinema, but the film itself still has a flat image. This is the straightforward category for ordinary streaming video.
Stereoscopic 3D
A compatible player presents different images to your left and right eyes, creating perceived depth. The film may still appear on a rectangular cinema screen. The content and player must agree on the format; a headset alone does not add a second camera view.
180° and 360° video
These labels describe the angular coverage of a video scene. With 180° content, the recorded scene covers roughly the space in front of you; 360° content can surround you. Either can be monoscopic or stereoscopic. Looking around a recorded scene does not necessarily let you walk freely through it.
Before you choose a player
- Check the exact video format and supported headset.
- Confirm whether the source is a flat film, stereoscopic film, or surrounding video.
- Check whether access requires a purchase, subscription, download or separate account.
- Use a short official sample when available before buying a longer experience.
Do not compare services only by the largest resolution number. A surrounding picture distributes pixels over a different field of view than a rectangular screen.