Apple Acquires VR Startup Spaces

Apple has acquired Spaces, a company set up by DreamWorks Animation veterans to provide VR experiences for theme parks and retail spaces.

According to a new report from Protocol, Apple confirmed the acquisition with the statement it usually offers in such cases: “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”

Spaces is known for developing location based VR parks and attractions that let consumers immerse themselves in virtual worlds. The startup currently has several different VR experiences in Washington DC, Tokyo, and other locations.

Spaces recently pivoted to build a virtual reality platform for video conferencing apps such as Zoom. This technology lets Zoom users take part in meetings with an animated avatar, interactive white boards and more.

Neither party revealed details of the deal, though Apple later confirmed the purchase with its stock response to reports about acquisitions, telling the publication: “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”

The acquisition appears to be consistent with Apple’s bet on VR and augmented reality (AR), which includes the recent acquisitions of Israeli AR and computer vision firm Camerai and VR live-broadcasting start-up NextVR.