Samsung’s latest announcement has left the tech community buzzing, as they’ve unveiled their new Android XR headset, stirring excitement among VR enthusiasts and developers. Although they are being tight-lipped about many specifics, a couple of key features have come to light that could transform the landscape for virtual reality aficionados.
Dubbed ‘Project Moohan,’ Samsung’s innovative headset is slated to hit the market next year, pioneering the use of Android XR in this space. During my exclusive hands-on session with the device, inputs were registered through advanced hand-tracking and eye-tracking technology. However, Samsung has assured us that they are also developing first-party motion controllers. These controllers will seamlessly integrate with Android XR, a move likely to please developers who rely on motion controls as a staple in many VR games. This development is crucial because it allows a multitude of existing VR applications, which depend heavily on motion controllers, to transition to Android XR without needing a complete overhaul. In contrast, Apple’s Vision Pro lacks support for these controllers, which complicates porting popular VR content to their XR platform.
Details on the Project Moohan controllers are still under wraps, but they are expected to launch in tandem with the headset in 2025. What remains uncertain is whether these controllers will be bundled with every headset or sold separately.
Another exciting revelation for VR content creators is the confirmation from both Samsung and Google that Project Moohan—and presumably other forthcoming headsets—will support PC VR streaming through Android XR. This capability opens the door to enjoying an extensive array of VR experiences by streaming them from a gaming PC directly to the headset. This access to the SteamVR catalog means users can expect superior graphics and enhanced modding support.
Though this is confirmed, further details remain scarce. It’s unclear whether this implies that Android XR will incorporate a native PC VR streaming feature similar to that found in the Quest lineup, or if Google is merely happy to allow third-party streaming solutions. The signs seem to point towards the latter, as the well-regarded Virtual Desktop app, known for PC VR streaming, is already gearing up for Android XR compatibility.
To dive deeper into Android XR and explore our first impressions of Samsung’s headset, I recommend checking out the recent announcement article along with our detailed hands-on review.
