Autodesk Buys The Wild XR Platform

Autodesk has announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire The Wild, a cloud-connected, extended reality (XR) platform, which includes its namesake solutions, The Wild and IrisVR. The Wild enables architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals to present, collaborate and review projects together in immersive and interactive experiences, from anywhere and at any time, the companies report. 

This acquisition enables Autodesk to meet increasing needs for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology advancements within the AEC industry and support AEC customers throughout the project delivery lifecycle, the company reports.

The Wild’s XR technologies offer on-demand and in-context opportunities for deeper team collaboration. Its virtual format empowers remote workforces and offers an immersive environment for real-time ideation and decision making, the company reports.

“Our acquisition of The Wild reflects the rapid transformation taking place in the building industry, from the complexity of projects to the geographic diversity of teams who design, construct, and operate them,” says Andrew Anagnost, CEO and president, Autodesk. “XR is a must-have business imperative for today and an important part of Autodesk’s Forge platform vision.”

The Wild’s virtual platform allows teams to work together inside digital project models to explore, interact and make changes to the model directly in the cloud. 

“The Wild and Autodesk share a common mission of encouraging a more productive and collaborative AEC industry, and in this case, one where teams can resolve issues in minutes from their desks rather than the traditional miles of costly travel,” says Gabe Paez, founder and CEO of The Wild. “The Wild’s customers understand the value from the get-go, building consensus as a team in the virtual world with the ability to make changes to their designs at the speed of thought.” 

Why XR Now?

“A convergence of events makes this the right time for Autodesk’s acquisition of The Wild’s talent and technology as the foundation of Autodesk’s XR journey,” says Nic Fonta, general manager of XR at Autodesk. “Accessibility, affordability as well as the future of digital twinsand metaverse, create the right environment and business rationale for advancing XR technology within the AEC industry.” 

The Wild and IrisVR draw data from various AEC technologies into their respective XR collaborative experiences to perform design review and model coordination. Cumulatively, existing integrations include Autodesk Construction Cloud (Autodesk BIM 360, Autodesk Build), Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Navisworks, as well as other non-Autodesk technologies, Rhinoceros and Trimble SketchUp. For more information about integrations, visit  IrisVR.  

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.

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