Google’s recent move to bring in a group of HTC’s XR engineers marks a significant stride in their quest to boost the Android XR platform. The company believes this step will drive forward their efforts in the realm of headsets and smart glasses.
Last month’s unveiling of Android XR by Google was a game-changer, shaking up the competitive landscape as Samsung appears to be gearing up to lead with the first headset operating on this new system. While many are excited about the familiar tech giants stirring the pot in the consumer XR arena, there’s a lingering wariness regarding Google’s dedication to this initiative over the long haul.
Addressing these concerns, Google engaged in an exclusive chat with Road to VR. However, there’s no denying they have a history of shelving products and services, including the notable Google Daydream from 2016, which was their initial foray into the XR environment.
Not long ago, Google revealed its agreement with HTC to absorb some of their XR talent. Although specifics of the deal remain under wraps, it’s likely a strategic move by Google to harness HTC’s hardware prowess and establish a firmer grounding in today’s XR market.
In their announcement, Google stated, “We’ve been in the XR game for more than ten years and recently rolled out the Android XR platform alongside our strategic industry partners. By bringing some of the HTC VIVE engineering team under our wing, following standard closing formalities, we’re adding a highly capable team with a solid track record in VR. We’re eager to see how this will propel the development of Android XR across the headsets and glasses sphere.”
Interestingly, this isn’t Google’s first investment in HTC’s expertise. Back in 2017, Google spent a notable $1.1 billion to secure HTC’s smartphone engineering team. Soon after, HTC combined its smartphone and VR divisions, indicating a stronger focus on its XR ventures.
The details of this latest agreement are still under wraps, leaving HTC’s next steps somewhat unclear. The company, based in Taoyuan, Taiwan, has been primarily focused on enterprise-level and prosumer XR headsets, including its recent $1,000 standalone mixed reality device, the Vive Focus Vision. This headset incorporates features from both the Vive Focus 3 (2021) and Vive Elite XR (2023).
While HTC has occasionally ventured into non-XR gadgets, these projects didn’t fully gain traction. In 2018, they introduced HTC Exodus 1, a crypto-phone, and followed it with another version a year later. In 2019, they launched an at-home 5G hub during the initial 5G excitement. However, none of these devices are available today, and the future remains to be seen.
