According to SamMobile, Google has announced a new feature called Auto Spatialization that can automatically convert 2D content into 3D. The company says it will start rolling out this technology to developers sometime next year. The report suggests Samsung could adopt it for its own One UI XR software layer. If that happens, the feature could then be released to the Galaxy XR headset soon after the developer rollout. This would effectively allow the device to turn standard videos, games, and apps into spatial, three-dimensional experiences without any manual work from creators.
The real game changer
Here’s the thing: the biggest hurdle for any new VR or XR platform is always content. You can have the most powerful, comfortable headset in the world, but if there’s nothing compelling to watch or play, it’s just an expensive paperweight. This move by Google, and Samsung‘s potential adoption of it, is a direct attempt to solve that chicken-and-egg problem overnight. Basically, it opens the floodgates to the entire existing library of 2D Android apps and media. That’s a massive shortcut.
Samsung’s strategic play
From a business strategy perspective, this is a very smart, low-risk move for Samsung. They’re leveraging Google’s R&D to supercharge their own product’s value proposition. They don’t have to build this complex conversion tech themselves. Instead, they can focus on the hardware and their core UI experience, while plugging into Google’s ecosystem play. The timing for a 2025 release also makes sense—it gives developers a year to play with the tools and potentially start creating native 3D content, while the Galaxy XR gets an immediate library boost from day one. The clear beneficiaries are Samsung, for having a more appealing headset, and consumers, who get more to do with their pricey new gadget.
But will it work well?
Now, the million-dollar question: how good will these auto-converted experiences actually be? Turning 2D into convincing, comfortable 3D isn’t trivial. There’s a big difference between a basic depth map effect and a truly immersive spatial conversion. If it feels gimmicky or causes eye strain, the feature could backfire. But if Google’s AI nails it? It could be the secret weapon that makes the Galaxy XR stand out in what’s becoming a crowded field. It’s a potentially brilliant piece of ecosystem strategy, turning a weakness into a strength before the headset even hits the shelves.
