Jan 24, 2025 20:00:00

Google hires VR-proven HTC VIVE engineering team for $388 million to strengthen Android XR

It has been revealed that in order to strengthen

Android XR , which Google announced in December 2024 as the operating system for XR devices, the company has hired members of a proven engineering team that worked on the VR device VIVE at Taiwanese manufacturer HTC for $250 million (approximately 38.8 billion yen).

We're accelerating the Android XR platform with a new agreement with HTC.
https://blog.google/feed/android-xr-htc-agreement/

HTC Announces XR Agreement with Google

https://www.vive.com/us/newsroom/2025-01-23/

Google acquiring part of HTC Vive team to boost Android XR

https://9to5google.com/2025/01/22/google-android-xr-htc-vive/

'HTC VIVE' is a VR headset brand jointly developed by equipment manufacturer HTC and game maker Valve, and released 'VIVE Focus Vision' in September 2024.

HTC VIVE's PC VR headset 'VIVE Focus Vision' released - GIGAZINE

According to Google and HTC, Google has signed a deal to pay HTC $250 million and have some of the HTC VIVE team members join Google. As part of the deal, Google has received a non-exclusive license to HTC's XR.

Google has been investing in XR for over 10 years and announced 'Android XR' for XR devices in December 2024.

Google announces 'Android XR', an OS for XR devices, allowing Android to be used on AR/VR headsets and smart glasses - GIGAZINE

Regarding the addition of HTC VIVE engineering members to the company, Google said, 'They are an incredibly strong technical team with a proven track record in the VR space, and we look forward to working with them to accelerate the development of the Android XR platform across our ecosystem of headsets and smart glasses.'

Meanwhile, HTC said the agreement 'strengthens our strategy to continue developing at the core of the XR ecosystem,' and that it remains committed to delivering innovative VIVE XR solutions like VIVE Focus Vision.

The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025.