Google announces a $250 million acquisition of a segment of HTC’s extended reality (XR) division, marking a significant step forward in its commitment to XR technology.

Google has finalized an agreement to acquire a portion of HTC’s XR division for $250 million. This strategic acquisition includes transferring certain HTC employees to Google and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025. The move is aimed at accelerating the development of the Android XR platform, enhancing the capabilities and ecosystem of XR devices, including headsets and smart glasses.

Google has been a key player in XR innovation for over a decade. The company recently introduced the Android XR platform in partnership with industry leaders, emphasizing its vision of creating an integrated ecosystem for immersive technologies. By incorporating HTC’s experienced VIVE engineering team, Google aims to strengthen its efforts in delivering cutting-edge XR experiences.

This acquisition also reinforces the longstanding relationship between Google and HTC, which dates back to a pivotal $1.1 billion deal in 2017 when Google acquired part of HTC’s smartphone division. Under the new agreement, HTC will provide Google with a non-exclusive license to its intellectual property, enabling HTC to continue developing its own XR innovations independently.

The collaboration reflects Google’s strategic focus on driving the future of XR technology, ensuring users worldwide benefit from more advanced and innovative extended reality experiences.

For more details on Google’s XR initiatives, visit Google Blog.