Key features of this news —
- ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has begun its first push into virtual reality tech (VR) with the purchase of Pico
- Pico was third in the world to manufacture VR headsets in the first quarter of 2021, with sales increasing 44.7 percent year over year.
- The Pico deal indicates a drive to broaden ByteDance’s company, which has seen popularity with TikTok as well as its Chinese equivalent Douyin.
ByteDance’s investment into virtual reality for TikTok
ByteDance, the holding company of TikTok, has undertaken its first venture into augmented worlds (Virtual R). They took over Pico, a start-up enterprise for virtual reality to make their venture possible. The purchase price is still not revealed, although it’s anticipated to be around 775 million dollars. Its procurement of Pico is part of a larger effort to extend its operations.
Pico’s hold on the VR world
Pico does have a long way to go, and ByteDance seems to have the resources to give it the boost it needs to keep up with the number of major headsets available in the United States from Meta, HTC, Valve, and PlayStation. As part of its expansion into games, ByteDance purchased Moonton, a leading mobile game company, for an estimated $4 billion in March.
The takeover of Pico by ByteDance might put the company alongside Facebook’s Oculus VR business. On the other hand, Apple purchased NextVR, an interactive virtual business, last year, prompting rumors that the corporation is developing its very own VR gear. A ByteDance representative remarked that they are excited about the prospects of Virtual reality and its synergy. ByteDance, which is mostly based on customer-focused services, appears to be taking a consumer-oriented strategy.
Why did TikTok select Pico?
Pico’s specifications are almost identical to those of the Meta Quest 2 headset. Both headgears have the same space, display per eye of 1832 x 1920, and Snapdragon XR2 processor. The Neo 3 Link, on the other hand, allows for a larger headset band and a DisplayPort connectivity rather than a USB-C port. This allows for better graphical prowess when connecting the unit to your PC. When contrasted, it is attempting to be really an in-between alternative for users who may not want to spend a fortune and want something that gives a bit more out-of-the-box experience.
