'Android VR' reveal poised for Google's I/O developer conference next week

As Google I/O draws nearer, rumours of a full-fledged Google-manufactured virtual reality headset continue to swirl.

Android Police reportedly spotted a “Android VR” placeholder within Google’s Play Developer Console. Gizmodo and Engadget co-founder Peter Rojas and current entrepreneur at investment firm Betaworks, also recently tweeted that Android VR will be announced next week at Google I/O.

Android VR will definitely be announced next week, and from what I’ve heard will be less powerful than the Vive or Rift.

— Peter Rojas (@peterrojas) May 11, 2016

Rojas says that Google’s upcoming headset will be a standalone device that doesn’t require a phone, though he also says it will be less powerful than the both HTC’s Vive and the Oculus Rift, two recently released high-end VR headsets that require powerful PCs.

Other than these tidbits of information, not much is known about Google’s often rumoured Android VR project. The Mountain View, California-based company is also expected to finally reveal the consumer version of its Project Tango smartphone, bringing the concept of augmented reality world mapping to the masses.

[source]Twitter, Financial Times[/source]