Google’s Recruitment of HTC’s XR Experts Sparks Speculation on HTC’s Future Directions

Google has snapped up several of HTC’s XR engineers, a move they hope will turbocharge the development of their Android XR platform for headsets and glasses. This acquisition marks a significant step in the ever-evolving competitive arena of XR technologies. Samsung is set to lead the charge with a headset powered by Android XR, sparking interest. However, this enthusiasm is tempered by the usual skepticism about Google’s long-term commitment to such projects.

While Google has tried to quell some of these concerns through an exclusive with Road to VR—you can dive deeper into that if you’re curious—the company’s track record of shuttering ventures, including the once-promising Google Daydream, looms large.

Recently, Google confirmed they’ve inked a deal with HTC, albeit without spilling too many beans on the specifics. It seems Google is keen on harnessing HTC’s hardware expertise to strengthen their foothold in today’s XR market.

In Google’s own words: “Our investment in XR spans more than a decade, and with the launch of the Android XR platform alongside strategic partners, we’ve signed an agreement to bring aboard some of the HTC VIVE engineering team. These engineers are a powerhouse with a shining reputation in VR, and we can’t wait to work alongside them to enhance the Android XR ecosystem for headsets and glasses.”

This isn’t Google’s first rodeo with HTC; back in 2017, they parted with a cool $1.1 billion for HTC’s smartphone engineering prowess. A year later, HTC merged its smartphone and VR teams, signaling a shift towards XR focus.

As the full details of the current arrangement remain under wraps, HTC’s next steps aren’t entirely clear. Based in Taoyuan, Taiwan, HTC primarily focuses on XR devices for both enterprise users and prosumers. Their latest offering, the Vive Focus Vision—priced at a thousand dollars—blends features from earlier models like the Vive Focus 3 and Vive Elite XR.

Despite dabbling in non-XR ventures recently, HTC hasn’t found much lasting success. In 2018, they launched the HTC Exodus 1, a crypto-centric phone, and followed up with another model the next year. Also in 2019, they released a 5G hub for home use, trying to leverage the initial excitement around 5G. As of now, these products aren’t a part of HTC’s lineup, so it remains to be seen what the future holds for the company.