Apple acquires NextVR, revealing that ambition for ARVR has not disappeared

It has been confirmed that Apple has acquired Virtual Reality (VR) company NextVR. It was reported that Apple canceled the development of AR glasses / headset in 2017, but this acquisition suggests that Apple will push forward the development of ARVR products.

Exclusive: NextVR acquired by Apple (Updated)-9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2020/05/14/apple-nextr-ar-headset/

Apple acquired NextVR, suggesting it still harbors VR ambitions | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/05/apple-acquired-nextvr-suggesting-it-still-harbors-vr-ambitions/

In 2016, VR headsets appeared one after another, and attention was paid to VR / AR technology, but after that, the `` Glass Explorer Program '' for early introduction of Google Glass was officially finished, July 2019 Was also reported to have canceled the development of AR glasses / headsets.

Apple cancels development of AR glasses / headset, development team reportedly disbanded-GIGAZINE

However, it is rumored again in November 2019 that 'Apple is developing its own AR headset and AR glasses.'

Multiple media report that Apple is developing its own AR headset and AR glasses-GIGAZINE

And technology news site 9to5Mac newly announced that Apple has acquired VR company 'NextVR' based in California, USA. NextVR is conducting an event that combines VR with sports and entertainment, installing a special camera at the sports match venue and delivering the game live to people wearing VR headsets at home, as if the match was a special seat So far, we have provided an experience as if you were watching a game.

At the time of writing, NextVR's website said, 'NextVR is on a new path. We thank all the fans and partners around the world who have built this platform to experience VR in sports, music and entertainment. It will be spelled.

NextVR
https://nextvr.com/

According to research firm PitchBook, NextVR received a capital investment of $ 116 million (12.4 billion yen) in 2019, and 95 employees belonged to it. We estimate that 9to5Mac was acquired for about 100 million dollars (about 10.7 billion yen), but the exact number is not published at the time of writing the article.

The acquisition suggests that Apple is going beyond the AR capabilities of the iPhone to add VR and AR technology to a new product category. Meanwhile, an Apple spokeswoman told CNBC , 'Apple sometimes buys small technology companies, but we don't usually talk about their goals or plans,' a routine comment was made at the time of the acquisition. It is only.

Bloomberg speculates that Apple's AR terminal `` Apple Glasses '' will be released in 2023, but analyst Minchi Kuo, who has a reputation for analyzing Apple products, said on May 14, 2020, `` Apple Glass Will be published in 2022 as soon as possible '. Kuo also noted the possibility that 'Apple Glass would be complex and expensive to manufacture to create an innovative MR / AR experience.'