Google shops HTC to get Android XR up and running

htc vive vr

Google is acquiring some of the employees of HTC’s VR division to accelerate development of its Android XR platform.

Google announces it has struck a deal with HTC. That deal involves some of the engineering team that worked on the HTC Vive headsets making the move to Google. How many employees are involved is not mentioned. The former HTC employees will be put on the development of the Android XR platform within Google.

HTC reports that Google is paying $250 million to take over the employees. In addition, Google will receive a “non-exclusive license” to HTC’s intellectual property. The deal does not mean that HTC will now suddenly stop designing VR headsets, the company stressed in its press release. Google went shopping with HTC back in 2017 to assemble a team for the Pixel phones. At the time, Google paid a billion dollars.

Google continues to harbor grand ambitions in the virtual world. A month ago, it unveiled Android XR: an Android version designed for headsets and smart glasses. Previous attempts by Google to revitalize the VR, XR and MR market, such as the Google Glass, met with little success. Will Google succeed with Android XR?