Top HTC Vive VR designer leaves to work on the Google Daydream VR platform

Facebook just hired ex-Xiaomi international VP, Hugo Barra for its VR and Oculus team. While that’s big news in itself, Google has also quietly hired a new senior designer for its Daydream VR platform . According to his Twitter account, Claude Zellweger has left HTC and is joining Google. He has worked on the HTC Vive VR headset as well as the HTC 10 smartphone. Apart from the public announcement, The Verge has confirmed that his HTC email account is no longer active and HTC has provided a statement when asked about Zellwager’s departure. https://twitter.com/Claudibus/status/824451898413506560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Here is what the Taiwanese company said: “HTC can confirm that Claude Zellweger has left the Company. We appreciate his considerable contribution to HTC, and wish him well in his future endeavors. HTC continues to invest in talent and recruitment as part of our broader strategy to ensure the continued strength and integrity of the Company’s organizational structure.” Google showcased its interest in the VR market when it announced Google Cardboard a couple of years back. However last year it announced Daydream, a more solid approach to provide VR to consumers. Since then, we’ve seen the Daydream VR headset as well as Pixel smartphones with Daydream support, and other manufacturers adding support for the new VR platform. Zellweger’s efforts on the HTC Vive headset, which includes many design studies and working on a variety of iterations, makes him well qualified and experienced in the field. He has also had a good experience with mobile hardware which will definitely help in guiding Google’s fairly new VR platform to success.