Sony is reportedly pulling back from its XR ambitions after transferring 43 patents it holds in the United States to Meta. The transfer took place between June and September this year and strengthens Meta's internal hardware team. The patents cover virtual, augmented, and mixed reality headsets, including head-mount displays and XR glass types, and were developed by Sony from 2010 through 2022.
The deal extends beyond the United States. In total, Sony will transfer 419 global patents to Meta. About 180 of these are held in the United States, while the remaining 239 were filed in other countries where Sony has research and development teams, including Japan, China, Korea, Europe, and other regions.
For Sony, the move makes a successor to the PSVR 2 very unlikely. The headset launched in 2023 alongside the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro as a console exclusive. Sony later introduced a PC adapter that allowed anyone to use the headset with their own computer.
For Meta, the acquired portfolio represents significant patent intellectual property. Sony's hardware has already been proven in gaming scenarios, a space Meta's VR headsets might eventually target as well.
Source: TechPowerUp News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing