Method and apparatus for processing and distributing live virtual reality content

An apparatus, system, and method is described for providing the real-time capture, processing, and distribution of panoramic virtual reality (VR) content. For example, one embodiment of a graphics processor comprises a video interface to receive a first plurality of images from a corresponding first plurality of cameras; an image rectifier to perform a perspective re-projection of at least some ofthe first plurality of images to a common image plane to generate a rectified first plurality of images; a stitcher to analyze overlapping regions of adjacent images in the rectified first pluralityand to identify corresponding pixels in the overlapping regions and to stitch the adjacent images in accordance with the corresponding pixels to generate a panoramic image comprising a stitched combination of the rectified first plurality of images; and a cylindrical projector to project the panoramic image onto a cylindrical surface to generate a final panoramic video image to be used to implement a virtual reality (VR) e