Android XR Dev Preview 2 Lands With Fancy Tools and No Headset

The post Android XR Dev Preview 2 Lands With Fancy Tools and No Headset appeared first on Android Headlines.

May 21, 2025 - 02:00

Today, Google is announcing an update to the Android XR SDK, by releasing Developer Preview 2. This is packed with new features and improvements to help developers create helpful and delightful immersive experiences with familiar Android APIs, tools and other open standards that have been created for XR.

This release comes just as other partners have announced Android XR products, like the XREAL Project Aura, which is light on details for now.

Google also notes that they will have two technical sessions related to Android XR at I/O this week, including Building differentiated apps for Android XR with 3D content, and The future is now, with Compose and AI on Android XR.

Google has been working on the APIs for Android XR since the release of the first developer preview, making them easier to use and adding new immersive Android XR features. With Jetpack XR SDK, developers can now play back 180° and 360° videos. The MV-HEVC standard is also optimized and designed for stereoscopic video, allowing apps to efficiently play back immersive videos at great quality.

Google has also updated Material Design for XR, so it now supports more component overrides for TopAppBar, AlertDialog and ListDetailPaneScaffold. This will help developers with their large-screen enabled apps that use Material Design effortlessly adapt to the new world of XR.

Google Play Store prepares for Android XR Apps

Google is also preparing the Play Store to show supported 2D Android apps on the Android XR version of the Play Store. Google urges developers to get their Android XR differentiated app ready for the big launch later this year, as they’d be one of the first differentiated apps on the Android XR Play Store, and get a boatload of attention.

Google has added new preview assets for the Play Store, like stereoscopic 180° or 360° videos, screenshots, app description, and non-spatial videos. So you can get your app ready to stand out on this brand new version of the Play Store.

The company is also getting ready for Android XR on glasses. However, Google says that they will share more details on how developers can help shape the experience for Android XR on glasses later this year. Which likely means that Google’s own XR Glasses are nowhere near ready to launch. Despite doing demos at Google I/O this week.

The post Android XR Dev Preview 2 Lands With Fancy Tools and No Headset appeared first on Android Headlines.