Sony transfers dozens of VR and XR patents to Meta

Sony has transferred dozens of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality patents to Meta. Between June and September of this year, 43 US-based patents were transferred as part of a larger agreement signed last December.

The broader deal is expected to involve a total of 419 global patents, including 180 in the United States, with the remainder distributed across Japan, China, Europe, and South Korea. These patents cover a wide range of technologies, from XR glasses to information processing specific to extended reality applications, with some dating as far back as 2010.

This move suggests a shift in Sony’s strategy regarding immersive technology. While the PlayStation VR 2 remains on the market, the transfer of these intellectual property rights may indicate that Sony views VR gaming as a niche segment and is reducing its direct investment in the development of future extended reality hardware.