The Wall Street Journal reports Google has "tens of engineers" working on an Android version designed for virtual reality applications, part of the search giant's plan to rival the Facebook-owned Oculus VR.

The VR Android will be freely distributed to headset OEMs, just as Android is for smartphones, tablets and wearable devices. Reportedly leading the development team is Clay Bavor, VP of product management and one of the people behind the cheap-as-free Google Cardboard VR headset, the WSJ adds.

One also has to keep in mind Google is a lead investor in Magic Leap, a mysterious startup working on augmented reality software.

Virtual reality is 2015's new hotness, at least judging from industry events such as Mobile World Congress and Game Developers Conference-- Valve and HTC have Steam VR and the Vive headset, Sony is pushing Project Morpheus and even Microsoft has the Hololens AR goggles.

Go Google's Android to Take on Facebook in Virtual Reality (WSJ, subscription required)