Why did Google give $250mn to HTC?

The Immersive Wire - 27 January 2025

Author

Tom Ffiske
January 27, 2025

Executive summary

Welcome to your weekly briefing on the metaverse and spatial computing. Here are your snippets to sound smarter in meetings this week:

  • Top Story: Why did Google give $250mn to HTC? (analysis below).

  • Interesting read: The European XR Industry Report 2025, published by XR4Europe with contributions from national XR associations, highlights the growth and innovation of the XR ecosystem across Europe.

  • This week: The Immersive Wire and City, University of London are working together for another networking event on 29 January. Come along!

  • Other stories: The Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting a UK-Japan XR Virtual Meet-Up on 12 February 2025, and Dynamic Languages has announced the addition of Korean (more stories below).

Back In Action is basic, boring, and has no sauce.

Tom Ffiske, Editor of the Immersive Wire

Top story

Google gave HTC $250mn for key personnel and IP.

  • What will Google get? Certain members of HTC's XR team will join Google, while Google gains a non-exclusive license to HTC’s XR intellectual property.

  • Why? For Google, the deal bolsters its Android XR platform and accelerates its presence in the headset and glasses ecosystem. Meanwhile, HTC focuses on “platforms, greater operational efficiency and financial flexibility.”

  • Is there more to it? I asked HTC and they declined to comment. But my interpretation is that Google wants to get a leg up on the Android XR operating system, and leverage key talent and IP so that it has its best chances of deployment. Let’s hope it avoids the Google graveyard.

  • Dynamic Languages has announced the addition of Korean to its 360-degree immersive VR experiences for language learning and cultural studies.

  • Flat2VR Studios has released the “New Environment, Custom Songs+” update for Trombone Champ: Unflattened, adding a frosty winter setting, new trombones, and custom songs.

  • Immersion Games will launch Fitness Fables, a VR fantasy-fitness experience combining interactive storytelling and exercise, on Meta Quest on 30 January 2025.

  • Microids and Kalank Games have announced The Smurfs – Flower Defense, a VR and MR game launching on Meta Quest 3 in May 2025.

  • North Yorkshire Council will use VR headsets in February to showcase proposed improvements to Selby Park, allowing the public to explore designs and provide feedback.

  • PikPok has opened pre-orders for Rival Stars Horse Racing: VR Edition, its debut VR entry in the popular horse racing franchise, launching early Q2 2024 on Meta Quest Store and SteamVR.

  • Swansea University and Zubr have developed the M[AR]gam app, an AR experience that digitally recreates Margam Castle’s Victorian interiors for visitors to explore.

  • The Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting a UK-Japan XR Virtual Meet-Up on 12 February 2025, featuring pitches from three Japanese companies seeking collaboration with UK businesses, along with a webinar on XR trends in both countries.

  • VITURE has launched Immersive 3D Powered by AI for its Pro XR Glasses, enabling 2D content like videos and streaming services to be transformed into 3D Spatial Video without specialised cameras.

Note: The Immersive Wire is run by Tom Ffiske, who also works at Accenture. The contents of the newsletter should not be regarded as Accenture’s views.