By XU Shiqi
Tencent has awoken and restructured its dormant extended reality (XR) team. XR is a general term for augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR).
A well-founded rumor has it that Tencent plans to team up with Meta’s Quest VR headset in a way similar to the collaboration with Nintendo.
In early September, Tencent formed an XR device and content division within the Interactive Entertainment Group (IEG).
In February, Tencent’s XR department had only a few employees until July, when foreign media reported that Meta would relaunch its business in China, starting with the Quest.
The top-selling VR headset is not available in China, but insiders told Jiemian News that “all agency matters are set, and Tencent is just waiting for final approval”.
The product’s brand and name are likely to be changed for the Chinese market.
The revitalized XR department has intentions beyond cooperating with others, with a number of in-house projects in the offing. Head of XR, QIAN Geng is also the general manager of Nintendo cooperation.
In June 2022, Tencent said it would “create industry-leading VR products and experiences,” but nothing materialized and the acquisition of the gaming company Black Shark ram aground.
Tencent’s renewed focus on XR appears to be influenced by the global excitement around Apple’s Vision Pro. However, Tencent is not well-versed in hardware, and CEO Pony Ma, has previously stated that Tencent does not make hardware.
