Owlchemy Labs and Resolution Games have announced they’re gearing up to support Android XR, planning to bring some of their standout games to Google’s anticipated XR operating system.
This innovative Android XR is slated to debut with Samsung’s ‘Project Moohan,’ a mixed reality headset expected to be available to consumers by 2025. Unlike Google’s previous attempt with Daydream, this is a true version of Android tailored for XR headsets. It will support an extensive library of traditional Android apps alongside immersive XR content.
As two of the most experienced studios in the XR realm, Owlchemy Labs and Resolution Games are once again leveraging their first mover advantage. Both studios have a strong history of supporting all major VR platforms, so this development isn’t all that surprising.
Owlchemy Labs made separate announcements revealing that their popular VR hits, Job Simulator from 2016 and its successor, Vacation Simulator from 2019, are headed to Android XR. Meanwhile, Resolution Games has announced that Demeo, a title from 2021, will also join the lineup.
Samsung is promoting Project Moohan’s advanced hand and eye-tracking features, reminiscent of Apple Vision Pro. But it’s not stopping there; like Meta’s Quest, Project Moohan will also come with its own motion controllers and PC VR streaming capabilities, creating a blend of both systems’ features.
For companies like Owlchemy Labs and Resolution Games, who have already integrated these tracking capabilities into their titles on Vision Pro, adapting them for Android XR seems relatively straightforward. This is partly thanks to Unity’s immediate support for Android XR, including the integration of the OpenXR software standard.
Owlchemy Labs expressed their excitement in a press statement, saying, “Developing for Android XR allowed us to efficiently create immersive experiences across a variety of XR devices. With the platform’s seamless integration with the Unity engine, the majority of functionalities were accessible directly from Unity APIs without the need for third-party libraries, streamlining the adaptation of our existing Unity-based games to the XR platform.”
Resolution Games mirrors this sentiment. Their CTO, Johan Gästrin, pointed out Google’s shared vision for social experiences, describing it as “a significant move in the XR industry.”
The easy accessibility of these three games provides an enticing entry for newcomers. From the quirky antics of Job Simulator to the rich, cross-platform multiplayer board game experience of Demeo, there’s something for everyone. However, it’s still up in the air if other XR studios will follow suit and jump on the Android XR bandwagon as quickly, especially considering the platform’s dependency on Project Moohan’s success. A significant determining factor will be the headset’s price, which is still under wraps, along with its detailed specs and launch date.
