Samsung isn’t sharing quite a lot of particulars on its newly introduced Android XR headset, however it has confirmed two key issues that present VR lovers and builders are positive to be completely satisfied about.
Samsung’s ‘Undertaking Moohan’ headset would be the first to ship with Android XR subsequent 12 months.
And although our hands-on with the headset completely used hand-tracking and eye-tracking enter, the corporate says it’s additionally making first-party movement controllers which can be natively supported as a part of Android XR.
That’s essential as a result of it means 1000’s of present VR functions which depend on movement controllers might be ported to Android XR with out utterly altering their basic recreation design. Imaginative and prescient Professional, however, doesn’t assist movement controllers, which suggests the overwhelming majority of the preferred VR content material thus far doesn’t have an easy path to engaged on Apple’s XR platform.
Samsung hasn’t shared any actual particulars in regards to the Undertaking Moohan controllers but, besides to say that they are going to be prepared in time for the headset’s launch in 2025. As of now, it’s undecided if they are going to be included within the field with each Undertaking Moohan headset, or bought as an add-on accent.
Additionally essential for present VR content material: each Samsung and Google have confirmed Android XR will assist PC VR streaming, of some type, on Undertaking Moohan (and future headsets).
Which means customers will have the ability to select to stream PC VR content material from a gaming PC to their headset, unlocking the massive library of VR content material by SteamVR, which regularly means higher graphics and broader modding assist.
Whereas that is confirmed, particulars listed here are slim too. It’s unclear if “assist” for this function signifies that Android XR may have a built-in PC VR streaming functionality (like Quest does), or if it simply means Google is dedicated to permitting third-party PC VR streaming apps on the platform.
It seems to be to be leaning towards the latter. Probably the greatest recognized third-party PC VR streaming apps, Digital Desktop, is already confirmed to be in growth for Android XR.
For extra particulars on Android XR typically, take a look at the announcement article and our hands-on with Samsung’s headset.
