In a surprising U-turn, YouTube has announced its plans to develop a native app for the Apple Vision Pro headset, according to reports. This comes as a change in stance, as YouTube stated in January that it had no immediate plans to support Apple's headset.

The Verge reported that a YouTube spokesperson confirmed the company's intention to create a YouTube app specifically for the Vision Pro. In the meantime, YouTube will also be optimizing its platform for Safari, acting as a temporary solution for users of the headset. The decision to prioritize the development of a native app for Vision Pro comes after developer Christian Selig, renowned for creating the popular Apollo app that was discontinued by Reddit in 2023, launched an unofficial YouTube app for the $3,500 headset.

"We're excited to see Vision Pro launch, and we're supporting it by ensuring YouTube users have a great experience in Safari," said YouTube spokesperson Jessica Gibby in an email to The Verge's Nilay Patel. "We do not have any specific plans to share at this time, but can confirm that a Vision Pro app is on our roadmap."

Notably, YouTube had previously indicated that it had no intentions of developing a dedicated app for Vision Pro, even as other high-profile companies like Netflix held a similar position. YouTube had also confirmed that it did not plan to make its iPad app available on the visionOS App Store, preferring to optimize for Safari instead.

The change in YouTube's stance within the last two-and-a-half weeks has prompted speculation as to what led to the decision. One theory suggests that the strong sales performance of the Vision Pro, with estimates indicating that Apple sold between 160,000 to 180,000 headsets during its opening weekend, may have influenced YouTube's decision.

Another theory points to the efforts of independent developer Christian Selig, who created an unofficial YouTube app called Juno for the Vision Pro headset. Selig, a former Apple developer and the creator of a popular Reddit app for iOS users, expressed disappointment in YouTube's lack of support for the platform. Selig noted in a blog post that while the YouTube website can be accessed through Safari, it does not provide the full Vision Pro app experience.

It remains unclear whether YouTube plans to incorporate features such as 3D and 360-degree videos into its Vision Pro app. However, the company's decision to prioritize the development of a native app for the Apple headset suggests a commitment to enhancing the user experience for Vision Pro users.

As YouTube prepares to develop its dedicated app for the Apple Vision Pro headset, it will be interesting to see how the integration of the popular video platform into the immersive world of spatial computing unfolds.