The folks over at Android Authority:
https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-one-ui-9-beta-galaxy-s26-changelog-3666500/
, have shared the accessibility features within the OneUI 9 changelog. Mentioning that Samsung version of Talkback will now be among the play store, and it seems all features from Google's version will finally be integrated into it. At least, that's what Samsung's Newsroom says:
https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-launches-one-ui-9-beta-for-galaxy-s26-series-users
For those on an S23 like me (who doesn't have the OneUI 8.5 yet still), OneUI 9 (Android 17) will be its last update. Definitely getting an S26 or S27 next year if my S23 Plus doesn't get the talkback us Samsung fans truly deserve from the Voice Assistant days. Can't believe it took this long!
PS. No, I am not sideloading Google's version of Talkback again.