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Adobe buys virtual reality software plugin SkyBox
Adobe Systems Inc. said Wednesday it has acquired SkyBox, a software plugin that connects Oculus Rift and HTC Vive VR headsets to various Adobe products.
As part of the deal, Chris Bobotis, co-founder of SkyBox creator Mettle Inc., is joining Adobe as director of professional video.
First released in 2015, Mettle’s SkyBox is designed to facilitate post-production of virtual reality video in Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects. The platform would complement Adobe Creative Cloud’s existing VR production technology.
“We believe making virtual reality content should be as easy as possible for creators,” Steven Warner, Adobe’s vice president of digital video and audio, said in a statement. “The acquisition of Mettle SkyBox technology allows us to deliver a more highly integrated VR editing and effects experience to the film and video community. Editing in 360/VR requires specialized technology, and as such, this is a critical area of investment for Adobe.”
SkyBox leverages Mettle’s 3DNAE Technology, a platform that use openCL and openGL programming languages along with proprietary algorithms to achieve what the company claims is “unprecedented effects in Adobe After Effects.” The platform already has an ample number of VR content creators including The New York Times, CNN, HBO, Google Inc. and its YouTube unit, Discovery VR, DreamWorks TV, National Geographic, Washington Post, Apple Inc. and Facebook Inc.
“More and more creators are experimenting with the powerful, immersive medium of 360/VR, from media publications and brands to entertainment companies, independent filmmakers, and online creators,” Adobe Senior Product Marketing Manager Meagan Keane said in a separate statement. “That’s why Adobe is increasing our investment with acquisitions like the SkyBox Suite and in new 360/VR technology like 6DOF from Facebook/Mettle.”
The acquisition price wasn’t revealed. Mettle was founded in 1992 during the first wave of virtual reality adoption and it’s not clear if it ever raised venture capital. Given that this was a technology buy versus an acquisition, the deal is already completed.
Image: Mettle
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