Sony has transferred 419 patents related to virtual, augmented, and extended reality to Meta. The deal covers technologies developed by the Japanese company between 2010 and 2022.
According to reports, 180 of these patents were registered in the United States. The remaining 239 patents are distributed across various jurisdictions, including China, Japan, South Korea, and Europe.
This move has sparked speculation regarding Sony's future in the VR hardware market. Observers suggest that the company might be scaling back its operations, potentially impacting the development of a successor to the PSVR 2.
The patent sale contrasts with statements made by Sony Senior Vice President Eric Lempel in 2024, who previously identified VR as a key business area for the corporation.
Despite the concerns raised by the transaction, Sony has not issued an official statement regarding the status of the rumored PlayStation VR 3 headset, and its cancellation remains unconfirmed.
