Owlchemy Labs and Resolution Games have taken an exciting step forward by announcing their support for Android XR, allowing some of their popular titles to make the leap to Google’s forthcoming XR operating system. This new OS will be launching alongside Samsung’s upcoming ‘Project Moohan’ mixed reality headset, which is set to hit the consumer market in 2025. Unlike the old Daydream platform, Android XR is a fully-fledged adaptation of Android that’s designed to function seamlessly on XR headsets, offering access to both the vast array of traditional Android apps and immersive XR experiences.
These two studios are seasoned players in the XR arena, and it seems they’re once again relying on their knack for getting in at the ground floor. Known for their extensive support across all major VR platforms, Owlchemy Labs and Resolution Games are making a smart, albeit expected, move by jumping on this new opportunity.
In announcements made separately, Owlchemy Labs shared that they are bringing their hit VR games Job Simulator (released in 2016) and its sequel, Vacation Simulator (from 2019), to Android XR. Meanwhile, Resolution Games confirmed that Demeo, a 2021 release, will also be joining the Android XR lineup.
Samsung’s Project Moohan promises some interesting features, notably its hand and eye-tracking technology. Like the Quest platform, it will also feature first-party motion controllers and PC VR streaming capabilities, essentially blending the best of both worlds.
Both Owlchemy Labs and Resolution Games have already incorporated hand and eye-tracking in their games for Vision Pro, so transitioning to Android XR should be fairly straightforward. This ease is largely due to the fact that Unity, the popular game development platform, is offering day-one support for Android XR, which incorporates the OpenXR software standard.
Owlchemy Labs commented in a press release, “Developing for Android XR has allowed us to create immersive experiences that are compatible across a broad spectrum of XR devices. The platform’s seamless integration with the Unity engine—with most functionality accessible straight from Unity APIs—has made the porting process smoother and ensured our Unity-based games transition effortlessly to the XR domain.”
Resolution Games echoed these sentiments, with CTO Johan Gästrin noting that Google’s commitment to enhancing social experiences aligns perfectly with their own vision, calling it “a prominent stance in the XR space.”
These games provide an easy entry for newcomers, from the quirky antics of Job Simulator to the rich, cross-platform multiplayer dynamics of Demeo. However, it’s uncertain how quickly other XR developers will jump on the Android XR bandwagon. Much of the platform’s success might hinge on Project Moohan’s reception, dependent in large part on still-unannounced factors like the headset’s price, detailed specifications, and exact release date.
