Search engine giant Google is currently revamping its Android smartphone system in order to power virtual reality headsets, a person familiar with the matter said following the unexpected success of its Cardboard VR viewer.

The move will bring both tech bigwigs Google and Facebook into a direct competition.

Facebook’s Oculus VR has partnered with leading Android smartphone maker Samsung on developing the Gear VR headset.

Meanwhile, Google has turned down the request for comment on its plans for Virtual Realty.

According to two people familiar with the project, Google has formed an engineers’ team for building a version of the Android operating system so as to power the applications based on virtual reality applications.

Android has emerged as the most popular smartphone operating system in the world.

The project is presently just speculative as no virtual-reality devices are yet shipping in large numbers. But the gaming firms, filmmakers and several others related to creative field are seeing huge promise in the field.

Android is an open operating system that is available for free to the hardware makers. Currently, there are four versions of Android, for the use in smartphones, wearable devices, cars and televisions.