Samsung’s long-rumored extended reality (XR) headset, aka Galaxy XR, is nearing its launch. The company teased the unannounced product in its latest earnings report. It appears Google is preparing the Play Store to support the upcoming XR headset. It’s creating a whole new category for XR and similar devices beyond the Galaxy XR.
Galaxy XR will get a dedicated device category in the Play Store
Google has traditionally designed the Play Store to serve a wide range of Android-powered devices. The store is your go-to hub for apps and games for smartphones, tablets, foldable phones, and smartwatches. Evidence unearthed by Android Authority reveals the Android maker is creating a separate device category for XR headsets and other similar products.
The publication decompiled the latest version (43.3.32-31) of the Google Play Store app to find code references for the XR headsets device category. The store also includes an icon depicting these devices. Currently, apps and games that are not optimized for XR headsets display a compatibility warning message. “This XR headset isn’t compatible with this app,” the warning reads.
While Android-powered XR or VR headsets already exist in the market, they aren’t very popular. Most of them do not use the XR version of Android OS. Google likely expects things to change in the coming years. Perhaps the upcoming launch of Samsung’s XR headset, which is developed in collaboration with Google and Qualcomm, could be the game-changer the industry needed.
Qualcomm’s CEO recently suggested it could be a pair of smart glasses rather than a full-blown headset, but companies might be only getting started. An early version of the device could reach developers by the end of this year. Samsung should follow up with a commercial version of the device sometime next year. Stay tuned for further updates on this anticipated release.
