Google recently made a significant move by bringing on board a number of XR engineers from HTC. This move, according to Google, is expected to speed up the expansion of their Android XR platform, which will benefit both headset and glasses ecosystems. This acquisition marks a pivotal moment in the world of XR, especially as Samsung is on track to be the first to debut a headset powered by the Android XR platform. While the introduction of new competitors to the consumer XR market is exciting, it does raise some concerns about Google’s long-term dedication to this initiative.
Despite some reassurances provided in a Road to VR exclusive, doubts linger due to Google’s history of terminating various projects and services, including Google Daydream. Daydream was Google’s inaugural foray into the XR realm back in 2016, a project they eventually abandoned.
Now, by partnering with HTC and bringing in their XR engineers, Google seems to be aiming for a firmer footing in the current XR landscape. Although detailed information about the deal is scarce, it’s clear that Google sees value in HTC’s hardware expertise as they ramp up their XR efforts. “We’ve been committed to XR for over ten years, and just last month, we revealed the Android XR platform with our strategic partners,” Google mentioned in their announcement. They went on to explain their enthusiasm about collaborating with the HTC VIVE team to further enhance the Android XR platform’s capabilities.
Interestingly, this isn’t Google’s first venture with HTC’s talent. Back in 2017, Google invested a hefty $1.1 billion to acquire HTC’s smartphone engineering team. A year later, HTC combined their smartphone and VR segments, indicating a stronger focus on XR technologies.
Currently, the specifics around the deal’s impact on HTC remain uncertain. The Taiwanese company, headquartered in Taoyuan, primarily focuses on creating XR headsets tailored for enterprise use and serious tech enthusiasts. Their latest product, the Vive Focus Vision, is a standalone mixed reality device priced at $1,000, drawing features from models like the Vive Focus 3 and Vive Elite XR.
HTC has also experimented with products outside the XR space. For instance, in 2018, they launched the HTC Exodus 1, a phone geared towards cryptocurrency enthusiasts, and followed it up with a successor. In 2019, they introduced a 5G hub designed to meet the early demand for 5G connectivity. However, as of now, these devices are no longer available on the market, leaving us to speculate on HTC’s next move.
