Google has announced an agreement to acquire a portion of HTC’s extended reality (XR) division for $250 million. This deal includes the transfer of certain HTC VIVE engineering team members to Google and grants Google a non-exclusive license to HTC’s XR-related intellectual property. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of this year, pending customary closing conditions.
This acquisition aims to accelerate the development of the Android XR platform, enhancing the ecosystem for headsets and glasses. Google has been investing in XR technologies for over a decade and recently introduced the Android XR platform in collaboration with strategic industry partners.
HTC will retain the ability to use and further develop its XR technology, as the intellectual property rights granted to Google are non-exclusive. This means HTC can continue its own XR initiatives without restrictions.
This move builds upon the existing relationship between Google and HTC, following Google’s $1.1 billion acquisition of part of HTC’s smartphone operations in 2017.
The collaboration reflects the intensifying competition among tech companies to lead in XR technology, a market projected to grow significantly in the coming years.
