Google recently made headlines with its decision to bring on board several XR engineers from HTC. This strategic move is aimed at speeding up the evolution of the Android XR platform across a variety of headsets and smart glasses.
This follows Google’s recent introduction of Android XR, a significant shift in the industry’s competitive dynamics. With Samsung expected to be the frontrunner in launching a headset powered by Android XR, there’s been a surge of interest. However, it’s mixed with skepticism, given Google’s history of sometimes investing in projects only to abandon them later, such as the Google Daydream back in 2016, a notable early foray into XR that ultimately fizzled out.
For those interested in the nitty-gritty, Google’s decision to bolster its XR endeavors through HTC’s expertise is detailed in an exclusive feature by Road to VR. It’s worth noting that Google has a history of sunsetting projects, which raises some eyebrows about the long-term prospects of this venture.
The most recent development is Google’s agreement to acquire talent from HTC’s engineering ranks, although details remain sparse. This acquisition could be Google’s way of establishing a firmer footing in the modern XR marketplace.
“We’ve been committed to XR technologies for over a decade and last month we partnered with key industry players to launch the Android XR platform,” Google elaborated in a statement. “Today, we made a pivotal move by integrating part of HTC VIVE’s engineering team. These individuals come with substantial technical acumen and a stellar VR track record. We’re eager to collaborate with them to accelerate progress in the XR arena across various headsets and glasses.”
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Google has picked HTC for its engineering talent. Back in 2017, Google invested a whopping $1.1 billion to acquire some of HTC’s smartphone engineering wizards. The subsequent merging of HTC’s smartphone and VR divisions indicated a heightened focus on XR technologies from HTC’s side.
While the specifics of the deal are still under wraps, the impact on HTC’s operations remains uncertain. Based in Taoyuan, Taiwan, HTC primarily manufactures XR headsets catering to both enterprise and pro-consumer needs. Their lineup includes the Vive Focus Vision, a standalone mixed reality headset priced at $1,000, blending technologies from both the Vive Focus 3 (2021) and Vive Elite XR (2023).
In recent years, HTC has experimented with products outside of XR, albeit without much sustained success. They introduced the HTC Exodus 1, a crypto-centric phone, in 2018 and followed it with a newer model a year later. They also launched a 5G hub, hoping to ride the initial 5G wave. However, none of these are in production anymore, so the gaming community will be waiting with bated breath to see what HTC’s next move will be.
