# **Is Google’s Android XR Strategy Doomed to Repeat Past Mistakes?**
## **Introduction**
Google’s strategy concerning its new Android XR platform is causing unrest among VR developers, especially among independent game makers. At GDC 2025, Google showcased its capabilities through AI and Android gaming sessions but seemingly neglected the indie VR and XR development sector. Expectations suggest that many top Quest developers faced rejection from Google’s Android XR boot camps, leading to speculation that Google is making the same errors that contributed to the downfalls of Stadia and Daydream.
## **Google’s Track Record of Discarding Platforms**
Google has a penchant for initiating ambitious endeavors only to abandon them shortly after. Its cloud gaming service, Stadia, was terminated in 2023 due to insufficient developer engagement and consumer interest. Likewise, Daydream, Google’s former VR initiative, faltered due to a shortfall in engaging content and developer participation. Now, with Android XR, it seems Google is adopting a parallel strategy—favoring large publishers while marginalizing indie developers who significantly contributed to the success of platforms like Meta Quest.
## **Indie Developers Excluded from Android XR**
During GDC 2025, Google did not organize any public sessions or demonstrations tailored for indie VR developers. Instead, it concentrated on AI and Android gaming, leaving many in the VR sector questioning its dedication to XR gaming.
RJ White, a developer from Soaring Roc Studio, disclosed that “9 out of 10 leading developers for the Quest platform” were turned away from Google’s Android XR boot camps. These developers are behind some of the most successful VR titles, yet Google appears to have excluded them. White contends that Google is emulating past mistakes by overlooking smaller studios capable of producing innovative content.
*”Google is repeating the mistakes that led to failure with Stadia and Daydream. By excluding some of the most knowledgeable and smaller developers and studios, they demonstrate that they haven’t absorbed any lessons on managing or advancing a contemporary software platform,”* White told Android Central.
## **The Significance of Indie VR Developers**
Independent developers have been instrumental in the rise of VR gaming. The Quest Store is replete with indie titles that have spurred engagement and increased sales. Games like *Beat Saber*, *Gorilla Tag*, and *Blade & Sorcery* originated as indie ventures but evolved into major successes. These titles encourage players to come back to VR headsets, ensuring the platform’s viability.
White believes that Google is overly focused on large studios and polished productions instead of cultivating a setting where smaller teams can innovate. He argues that XR developers should not be viewed merely as game makers but as *“experts in 3D interaction”* capable of expanding the frontiers of immersive experiences. By overlooking them, Google risks transforming Android XR into a platform reliant on 2D applications rather than genuine XR experiences.
## **Google’s Android XR Strategy: Emphasis on Productivity?**
Google’s hesitation to engage with VR game developers indicates a potential preference for productivity and enterprise applications over gaming. The forthcoming Samsung Project Moohan headset, set to operate on Android XR, is speculated to have top-tier micro-OLED displays and come with a high price point. Other Android XR devices, like Sony’s enterprise headset and Xreal AR glasses, similarly seem to cater to business and productivity users rather than gamers.
This tactic parallels Apple’s strategy with the Vision Pro, which emphasizes productivity and media consumption instead of gaming. Still, Apple benefits from a robust ecosystem and customer loyalty, whereas Google’s history with new platforms is considerably less reliable.
## **Can Google Alter Its Direction?**
Despite these concerns, there remains a possibility that Google will come to understand the significance of VR gaming for Android XR. The platform incorporates support for Unity, OpenXR, and WebXR, facilitating easier game porting for developers. However, without direct backing and incentives from Google, many developers might opt to remain with Meta’s Quest platform.
The upcoming Google I/O 2025 in May is expected to shed more light on the company’s roadmap for Android XR. To circumvent another setback, Google must actively involve itself with the VR developer community and guarantee that Android XR is an inviting platform for both indie and major developers.
## **Conclusion**
Google’s current tactics regarding Android XR are raising alarms among VR developers. By seemingly sidelining indie game creators, the company risks replicating the blunders that triggered the demise of Stadia and Daydream. If Google intends for Android XR to thrive, it must acknowledge the importance of the indie VR gaming sector and equip them with the necessary support. Otherwise, Android XR may become yet another instance on the extensive list of Google’s forsaken projects.
