GoPro Plans New 3D Camera For Consumers, Partners With YouTube For More 360-Degree Video

GoPro is investing a lot more energy into 3D and 360-degree video tech. At the YouTube keynote at CES 2016 on January 7, GoPro CEO Nick Woodman announced his company would work to develop a new 3D camera for consumers. Additionally, the action camera company is partnering with YouTube to create more 360-degree content in the future.

GoPro currently has a two different cameras and rigs capable of helping film content in 3D and 360 degrees, but the equipment is expensive and aimed at professional videographers as opposed to the general public. To rectify that, Woodman said his company plans to release a more “casual” spherical capture camera in the future. At the same time, GoPro will work alongside YouTube to develop more 360-degree content, which only makes sense considering the online video site became heavily involved in supporting 3D and 360 content over the course of 2015.

“On YouTube, we made a big, early bet on 360-degree and 3D video because it is the first type of video that actually gives you a better experience on mobile than you can have on desktop or on your TV,” said YouTube CBO Robert Kyncl. “And since we know mobile video is exploding, formats that lend themselves to mobile storytelling will grow along with them.”

“We can leverage traditional content to market a VR-viewing experience. It’s not either-or; it can be both,” Woodman added. “You can imagine a future where perhaps on the GoPro channel on YouTube, every piece of content we shoot is available in traditional format and VR to help raise awareness of it.”

No further information (i.e. product name, release date, etc.) has been announced as of yet for GoPro’s upcoming 3D-capable camera.