VideoLAN has released a technical preview of VLC Media Player 3.0 with 360-degree video support.

The new build handles videos following the Spatial Video format, and photos and panoramas following the Spherical spec (the official test page has sample files).

The files play back just like any other video, but you can now left-click and drag within the screen or use the numeric keypad arrows to look around.

VideoLAN says there are multiple display modes – Zoom, Little Planet and Reverse Little Planet – although we couldn’t immediately see how they were activated.

This initial release is only available for Windows and Mac, but eventually 360-degree support will arrive for Android, iOS and Xbox One, with VR headset support likely to arrive in 2017.

Click and drag inside a 360-degree video to look around

It’s worth a look, but beware– the download is a full install of VLC Media Player 3.0, and it’ll normally replace whatever VLC installation you have right now.

360-degree-enabled VLC Media Player 3.0 is available now for Windows 7+ and Mac.