Vicon Expands Capabilities with Acquisition of Manchester's Captive Devices

Vicon has purchased Captive Devices, a UK company known for its facial performance capture technology. The deal enhances Vicon's motion capture offerings as the founding team joins their ranks.

Vicon, a key player in the motion capture industry and a division of Oxford Metrics, has announced its acquisition of Captive Devices Ltd., a firm based in Manchester, UK. Captive Devices specializes in innovative head-mounted camera systems designed for markerless facial performance capture, a technology that is becoming increasingly vital in the entertainment sector. The acquisition is effective immediately, with the founding team of Captive Devices integrating into Vicon's operations. This move is expected to bolster Vicon's capabilities and offerings in the field of motion capture, which is widely used in film, gaming, and virtual reality. Many prestigious studios are already utilizing Captive Devices' technology. Notable names include Ninja Theory, Nant Studios, Animatrik, and Deep Silver Dambuster Studios, each of which has leveraged the advanced facial capture solutions that Captive Devices has developed over the years. With the landscape of digital media continuously evolving, enhanced facial capture capabilities promise to bring more nuanced performances to animated characters and digital avatars. This acquisition places Vicon in a stronger position to meet the growing demands of content creators who are looking for cutting-edge technology to bring their visions to life. Vicon and Captive Devices appear set to make significant contributions to the industry, combining their expertise to innovate and refine motion capture techniques further. Given the evolution of content production and the increasing importance of realism in motion capture, this acquisition signifies a strategic step toward maintaining Vicon's leadership in the market. According to Variety, the purchase highlights Vicon’s commitment to enhancing its technology portfolio and delivering state-of-the-art solutions to its clients. With the integration of Captive Devices, Vicon is poised to push the boundaries of what is achievable in motion capture and performance technology.