Samsung has recently announced its latest venture in the world of XR technology, an Android-based headset that’s set to launch next year. While keeping most of the details under wraps, the company has revealed two major features sure to excite both VR enthusiasts and developers.
Dubbed ‘Project Moohan,’ this headset will be the pioneer to integrate Android XR, set to debut next year. During our hands-on experience with it, we explored hand-tracking and eye-tracking functionalities. However, what truly caught our attention was Samsung’s announcement about developing native motion controllers compatible with Android XR.
This development is particularly significant because it opens a door for thousands of existing VR applications—those built around the use of motion controllers—to transition smoothly to Android XR. Unlike Samsung, Apple’s Vision Pro doesn’t offer support for motion controllers, which could leave a gap in compatibility for a vast array of popular VR content.
As for the Project Moohan controllers, Samsung remains tight-lipped on specifics, only assuring us that they’ll be available by the headset’s planned release in 2025. A decision has yet to be made about whether these controllers will come bundled with the headset or sold separately.
Adding to the excitement for the VR community, Samsung, in collaboration with Google, has ensured that Android XR will support some form of PC VR streaming on Project Moohan and future devices. This means users could stream and enjoy PC VR content from their gaming systems directly to the headset, accessing a wealth of VR experiences available on platforms like SteamVR—complete with superior graphics and extensive modding capabilities.
However, the specifics of this feature remain a bit fuzzy. It’s not yet clear if Android XR will have its own built-in PC VR streaming solution akin to the Quest’s, or merely provide room for third-party apps to facilitate this. It seems to be leaning towards the latter, with Virtual Desktop, a well-known name in the VR streaming space, already developing a version for Android XR.
For those keen on diving deeper into what Android XR has to offer, be sure to check out the official announcement and our initial impressions of Samsung’s promising new headset.
