China-based Play for Dream, the corporate constructing a Imaginative and prescient Professional-like standalone MR headset, says it expects to undertake Android XR as its standalone working system.
The Play for Dream MR headset has been referred to as a “Imaginative and prescient Professional knock-off,” given its shut aesthetic similarity to Apple’s headset. However individuals who have tried it say it’s greater than only a low-cost look-alike, together with a former Quest engineer who gave the headset excessive reward on execution.
Whereas the Play for Dream MR headset is presently working its personal taste of Android as its underlying working system, the corporate tells Street to VR that it expects to undertake Google’s personal Android XR platform finally. The corporate says it’s “in ongoing discussions, however a definitive timeline has not but been supplied,” concerning the transfer.
Whether or not meaning the Play for Dream MR headset itself would doubtlessly be up to date sooner or later with Android XR after launch is unclear. Alternatively the corporate might wait till a future headset to make its transition.
On condition that the $1,200 headset is deliberate to launch on the finish of the month, it’s unlikely Android XR would crop up earlier than then. Particularly contemplating that Google says Samsung’s Mission Moohan headset would be the first headset to launch with Android XR, and its launch date nonetheless hasn’t been introduced.
Play for Dream is comparatively properly established in China, however is little identified within the US. In talking with the corporate just lately, we discovered extra about its background.
Play for Dream was based in 2020 by CEO Huang Feng, who can also be the founding father of Wanyoo Esports, “Asia’s largest esports café chain;” and Bixin, “a number one gaming platform utility in China with over 60 million registered gamers,” the corporate says.
Different key executives embody Chairman Zong Yuan and CTO Yue Fei, whereas the corporate says it has greater than 200 staff, and has not raised any outdoors funding.
Whereas the corporate has offered a number of headsets into the Asia market, it says the Play for Dream MR headset is targeted totally on the US XR market.
Responding to criticism of the similarity of the headset (and its advertising and marketing) to Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional, a spokesperson stated, “Our objective wasn’t to straight rival the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. We drew inspiration from its progressive design, focusing as an alternative on creating an Android-based gadget that displays our distinctive imaginative and prescient and strategy.”
Whereas there are important similarities to Imaginative and prescient Professional within the look of the headset and its interface, one marked distinction is that Play for Dream MR will help movement controllers.
The headset obtained its toes of the bottom with a Kickstarter marketing campaign that launched in September 2024, which raised roughly $300,000 from 215 backers, and resulted in October.
Whereas the marketing campaign signifies that the primary shipments of the Play for Dream MR headset are already delivery to backers, the broader launch date for the headset is predicted on the finish of March, the corporate says.
