Microsoft has acquired a series of assets and patents from the Osterhout Design Group for up to $150 million, according to reports. The common consensus is that these patents relate to virtual reality headset technology, suggesting that the company is looking to start its own VR initiative.
This won’t come as a huge surprise given the news that Sony is already working on Project Morpheus, and Oculus has recently been bought out by Facebook.
Techcrunch reported the news, citing sources within the company. Apparently ODG head Ralph Osterhout, who originally stated that his company would remain independent, finalised the deal back in November. The patents ”quietly transferred” in January 2014.
Microsoft now owns a total of 81 patents, with 6 already issued and 75 in-progress in the US and internationally. You can find the full list of all patents here.
