Apple Acquiring AR Company That Works On Mario Kart Rides, Has Links To Design Executive Jony Ive: Here Are The Details

Technology giant Apple Inc AAPL has been known to make acquisitions over the years to grow its products and talent pipeline.

Here’s a look at the latest deal.

What Happened: Apple acquired the augmented reality headset company Mira. The move coincided with the unveiling of augmented reality and mixed reality headset Apple Vision Pro at the company’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC).

Mira’s headsets are used at Nintendo World theme parks and their Mario Kart rides, according to a report from The Verge. Nintendo World is a new area at Universal Studios theme parks, which is owned by Comcast Corporation CMCSA.

The headsets from Mira display virtual characters and items from Mario Kart during the ride.

Apple has confirmed the acquisition with no purchase price revealed. Mira had raised around $17 million in funding.

Mira builds scalable hardware and software in the augmented reality space for other companies, working with companies and military branches including the Air Force and Navy.

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Why It’s Important: News of the acquisition comes shortly after Apple unveiled the Vision Pro, a mixed-reality headset that will retail for $3,499.

One item that could be of importance is the link between the two companies and Jony Ive. Previously serving as the chief design officer and other various titles at Apple, Ive and the company parted ways in 2019.

Ive was also an advisor to Mira, which could give Apple some familiarity with the company or be a bet on the vision Ive had laid out for the company.

While at Apple, Ive was instrumental in the design of the iPod and iPhone.

AAPL Price Action: Apple shares closed Wednesday down 0.78% to $177.82 on Wednesday.

Read Next: Apple Struggles To Find Next Jony Ive As Future Of iPhone Design Hangs In Balance

Photo: Mira