Technology giant Apple has bought virtual reality company NextVR, according to
a report on CNBC.
NextVR provided broadcasts of entertainment and sporting events for a variety of compatible VR headsets, including Oculus Rift, Sony PlayStation and HTC Vive devices. It’s now replaced the content on its
website with a statement that reads:
NextVR is Heading in a New Direction
Thank you to our partners and fans around the world for the role you played in building this awesome platform for sports, music and entertainment experiences in Virtual Reality.Rupantar Guha, Senior Analyst for Thematic Research at data and analytics company
GlobalData, said "Apple’s acquisition of NextVR comes as something of a surprise because the company has often been critical of virtual reality while endorsing augmented reality (AR). However, the deal makes sense for Apple’s upcoming plans, and GlobalData expects Apple to use NextVR to bolster its iOS ecosystem beyond iPhones. Apple is reportedly working on a headset that will feature a combination of AR and VR capabilities to enable immersive gaming, video streaming and virtual meetings. With this in mind, NextVR is a perfect fit for Apple, as it has a foothold in both VR streaming and VR social media."