The man who led the design team behind HTC Vive is joining Google to work on Daydream VR

Ben Schoon | Jan 26 2017 - 5:48 am PT

VR is growing fast, whether that’s on desktops and consoles, or on mobile devices. While there’s no doubt that most impressive options have come in the PC-powered section of the market, such as the HTC Vive, we’ve also seen some very capable mobile options, like Samsung’s Gear VR and Google’s Daydream View. Now, the man who led the design team on HTC’s Vive is heading to Google Daydream.

In a tweet last night, Claude Zellweger confirmed that he was making the move over to Google Daydream. This comes after eight years at HTC, where for a time he led the team which designed the company’s popular VR headset, the HTC Vive, as well as assisting in design on many of the company’s smartphones, including the recent HTC U family.

This move probably won’t affect HTC’s smartphones all that much, considering Zellweger played a smaller role in designing those devices. His main role was on the Vive. The Verge was able to obtain a statement from HTC confirming Zellweger’s departure.

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.

As for what Zellweger will be doing with Google Daydream, I’d speculate he’ll be working on the development of new VR headsets for the platform. Presumably this would include a successor to the current Daydream View, but it may also include new options, possibly some that are more advanced. We can’t wait to see what he will bring to the table with Daydream, and his knowledge of smartphone design will likely play a big role in the development of whatever headsets he is involved with.