Google Acquires HTC XR Business for $250 Million

Google Acquires HTC XR Assets for $250 Million

A significant agreement has been reached between Google and HTC, resulting in Google’s acquisition of a portion of HTC’s extended-reality (XR) division for $250 million.

This acquisition represents a strategic move by Google to bolster its presence in the rapidly evolving virtual and augmented reality hardware landscape, particularly following the introduction of its Android XR platform.

Details of the Transaction

The terms of the deal stipulate the transfer of select engineering personnel from HTC VIVE to Google.

Furthermore, Google will be granted non-exclusive rights to utilize HTC’s intellectual property.

Notably, HTC will maintain its own rights to continue utilizing and further developing the underlying technology.

A History of Collaboration

This transaction isn’t the first instance of substantial collaboration between the two companies.

In 2017, Google previously acquired HTC’s smartphone division for a considerable $1.1 billion.

Impact on Android XR Development

Google anticipates that this latest acquisition will significantly expedite the development of its Android XR platform.

The focus will be on advancements applicable to both headsets and augmented reality glasses.

The Competitive XR Landscape

This move positions Google to more effectively compete with other technology leaders in the XR space.

Companies like Apple and Meta are currently at the forefront of the virtual-reality market, and Google aims to challenge their dominance.

Future Collaboration

Both Google and HTC have expressed their intent to explore further opportunities for collaborative ventures in the future.

This suggests a continuing relationship beyond the scope of this specific acquisition.