Facebook owner Meta is increasing its investment in metaverse tech with the acquisition of smart lens firm Luxexcel.

The Netherlands-based Luxexcel was initially founded in 2009 as a prescription lens manufacturer, but more recently has pivoted towards making 3D-printed lenses for augmented reality technology. The company was rumoured to have previously partnered with Meta on its Project Aria augmented reality (AR) glasses.

The news was initially reported by Dutch-language newspaper De Tijd and subsequently confirmed by TechCrunch, though Meta did not disclose how much it was paying for the lensmaker. Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth last month published a blog post which said that the company is pouring “about half” of its metaverse division’s operating expenses into AR tech.

In a statement provided to the outlet, Meta head of financial communications Ryan Moore said: “We’re excited that the Luxexcel team has joined Meta, deepening the existing partnership between the two companies.”

While it continues to invest in AR technology, it is unlikely that a finished product will be available in the near future. In last month’s blog, Bosworth said that Meta’s AR glasses still “require years of progress” while the company focuses on making the device “slimmer, lighter, faster, and more powerful.”

Meta launched the professional-oriented Quest Pro VR device in late October 2022. The £1,499 VR headset is squarely aimed at work environments, with 2020’s cheaper Meta Quest 2 still serving as the company’s consumer VR device.

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