Play for Dream, based in China, has been making waves with its new MR headset, often drawing comparisons to Apple’s Vision Pro due to its uncanny resemblance. Despite this, those who have had the chance to try it, such as a former Quest engineer, have been quick to praise its quality, suggesting it offers much more than just a pretty facade.
Currently, the headset operates on a bespoke version of Android, but the company has disclosed to Road to VR that they’re planning on transitioning to Google’s Android XR platform in the near future. Discussions with Google are already underway, though no specific timeline for this transition has been established. This leaves us wondering whether existing headsets might receive an update or if we’ll see the new platform on future models.
With the headset priced at $1,900 and set to launch later this month, it’s unlikely that Android XR will be integrated before its release. Moreover, Google has made it clear that Samsung’s Project Moohan will be the first to debut with Android XR, although its launch date is still up in the air.
While Play for Dream has a solid footing in China, it remains relatively unknown in the US market. Our recent conversation with the company shed light on its origins: founded in 2020 by Huang Feng, who also established Wanyoo Esports, the largest esports café chain in Asia and Bixin, a major gaming platform in China boasting over 60 million users.
The leadership team includes Chairman Zong Yuan and CTO Yue Fei, with over 200 employees on board and no external funding to date. Their MR headset, though having made sales across Asia, is now gearing its focus towards capturing the US XR market.
In response to criticisms about its similarities to Apple’s Vision Pro, a company spokesperson emphasized that their aim wasn’t to directly compete with Apple. “We took inspiration from its ground-breaking design but focused on crafting an Android-powered device that embodies our vision and creativity," they noted.
The headset does have its own distinctive features, such as supporting motion controllers, which sets it apart from the Vision Pro. It gained initial momentum through a Kickstarter campaign launched in September 2024, amassing around $300,000 from 215 backers by October.
While backers are already receiving their headsets, Play for Dream has slated a broader launch for the end of March.
Update (March 1st, 2025): The price listed in a previous version of this article was $1,200, which reflected the Kickstarter price. This has since been corrected to the current market price of $1,900.
