Google is paying HTC $250 million in cash for a deal that will give the company’s bigger plans for Android XR a boost. Under the terms of their SETTLEMENTsome members of the HTC Vive engineering team will join Google, which describing them as an “incredibly strong technical team with a proven track record in the VR space.” HTC has released its first consumer version Vive VR headsetdesigned in collaboration with Valve, back in 2016. Last year, it launched the Vive Focus Vision more than a year after it released its first standalone headset for consumers, the Vive XR Elite.

In addition to absorbing some members of the Vive team, Google will also get a non-exclusive license to use HTC’S extended reality technologies. HTC can still use its own IPs, and it has promised to continue developing and supporting its XR headsets. The companies will also “explore future collaboration opportunities.” Google said the deal will help “accelerate its headset and glasses ecosystem.” The company has set its sights on a joint venture Android XR ecosystem in December, which will span a variety of virtual and mixed reality headsets and glasses. We should see the first Android XR devices this year, including one codenamed Project Moohan from a Google-Samsung collaboration.

The deal with Google and HTC is still subject to customary closing conditions and will be completed in the first quarter.

If you purchase something through a link in this article, we may earn a commission.