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Motion Capture Supplier Vicon Buys Move AI’s Markerless Tech for £525,000 as Its Owner Calls Location-Based Entertainment Demand Resilient

Optical motion capture cameras with infrared LED rings mounted on a truss above an empty tracking stage (AI-generated image)

Oxford Metrics plc, owner of motion capture supplier Vicon, bought the assets of markerless developer Move AI on 9 October 2026. It paid £525,000 in cash, or about £725,000 with costs, after a competitive bid process. The same morning the London-listed company said demand “remains more resilient in location-based entertainment and selected Asian markets”, in a trading update that also warned of an adjusted operating loss for its current financial year.

Move AI is a London company founded in 2019. Its Genesis platform turns ordinary video into 3D motion data, with no markers or suits on the performer, from a single camera up to real-time multi-camera setups. The business had unaudited 2025 revenue of £1.1m. Its technology, patents, team and customers transfer to Vicon. Move AI’s announcement names entertainment and content creation, sport, biomechanics and human performance as its markets.

The price is a fraction of what Move AI raised. It announced a $10m seed round in October 2023 from Play Ventures, Warner Music Group, RKKVC, Level2 Ventures and Animoca Brands, and BusinessCloud puts its total funding at $17.5m.

Two former Vicon executives had joined Move AI earlier in 2026, according to their LinkedIn profiles. Mark Finch, Vicon’s chief technology officer from 2019 to April 2025, became a non-executive director in March. Jeffrey Ovadya, Vicon’s US sales director until May, became chief commercial officer in June.

A second markerless motion capture purchase in five weeks

“This acquisition is closely aligned with our strategy to broaden Vicon’s markerless capabilities while maintaining its leadership in optical motion capture,” said Gary Bullard, non-executive chair and interim chief executive of Oxford Metrics.

Vicon launched its own markerless system at GDC in March 2025, with Dreamscape Immersive among its beta testers. On 1 September 2026 it bought Captive Devices, a Manchester maker of head-mounted cameras for markerless facial capture, for up to £750,000 including an earnout. Move AI adds markerless body capture from video.

Oxford Metrics cuts its forecast for the motion capture business

Oxford Metrics moved its year end in December 2025, so its 2026 financial year runs 15 months to 31 December 2026. It now expects revenue of £47.0m to £51.0m for that period, against market expectations of £56.2m. It expects an adjusted loss before interest and tax of £0.5m to £3.9m. The market had expected a £3.0m profit.

Trading since the 17 June interim results has been below the Board’s expectations, the company said. It named three causes: changes in Vicon’s established end markets, pressure on research funding, and delays to major projects. The delays sit in its Industrial Vision and Metrology Systems division, which sells to manufacturers.

“Vicon’s entertainment revenue has been affected by reduced investment across film, television and games,” the update said.

“Trading in our established markets has been more difficult than expected,” Bullard said. “Changes in the studio landscape and constrained research funding have reduced customer investment and we have revised our near-term expectations accordingly.”

The shares fell 14.6% to 29.8p by 07:12 GMT on 9 October, their lowest since March 2015, Reuters reported. For 2027, the company expects adjusted operating profit at or above the market’s £3.5m forecast, on revenue below the £52.5m forecast. “Our focus for 2027 is on improving margins while developing more recurring revenue,” Bullard said.

Vicon’s motion capture orders from location-based entertainment and robotics

Sandbox VR runs Vicon tracking in its venues. The partnership began in 2019 with Sandbox VR’s third title, Amber Sky 2088. By September 2022 Vicon said its tracking had been installed at more than 26 Sandbox VR locations. “I’ve always said that we started working with Vicon because we needed a true partner, not just a technology supplier,” Steve Zhao, chief executive of Sandbox VR, said at the time.

The VR Collective reported in March 2025 on the markerless tracking behind Dreamscape Immersive’s The House of Wonders in Geneva. Vicon and the Swiss VR company Artanim supplied it.

“Robotics remains a particularly encouraging area of demand,” the update said. It cited orders from robotics companies, including for humanoid robot development and drone tracking.

On 23 April 2026, Oxford Metrics reported revenue of £20.7m for the six months to 31 March 2026, up from £20.1m. Vicon reported contract wins in Eastern Europe, Japan and India at the time. The update described the US academic and entertainment markets as “broadly unchanged”.

Cost cuts, a buyback and a new chief executive

Oxford Metrics expanded its cost programme to net annual savings of £1.5m to £2.0m, including £0.6m announced earlier. Of those savings, about £1.5m will benefit 2027 after reinvestment, the company said. Reuters reported that the programme includes job cuts. The Industrial Vision and Metrology Systems division will also drop lower-margin distribution products.

Oxford Metrics also began a £3m share buyback on 12 October, holding the shares in treasury. Its net cash stood at £31.7m on 31 March 2026, according to the April update.

Stefan Lampa, 62, joins the Board as chief executive on 1 December 2026, subject to his UK right to work. His appointment was first announced on 7 September. His background is in robotics, automation and industrial technology.

What this means for operators and investors

Free-roam VR operators running Vicon tracking now have a supplier that owns three markerless systems, its own, Captive Devices and Move AI, alongside the optical cameras in their arenas. The same operators have Oxford Metrics’ 9 October statement that demand “remains more resilient in location-based entertainment”. Investors have the forecast loss, a share price at its lowest since March 2015, £31.7m of net cash at 31 March and a £3m buyback.

FAQ

What did motion capture supplier Vicon’s owner buy from Move AI? The assets of Move AI, a London developer of markerless motion capture, for £525,000 in cash, or about £725,000 with costs. Its Genesis platform turns video into 3D motion data without markers or suits. The technology, patents, team and customers transfer to Vicon.

Why was the Move AI price so low? Oxford Metrics said only that it bought the assets after a competitive bid process. Move AI had unaudited 2025 revenue of £1.1m and had raised a reported $17.5m. Its founder and chief executive, Tino Millar, resigned as a director in February 2026, according to Companies House.

Who owns Vicon? Oxford Metrics plc, listed on the London Stock Exchange as OMG. Oxford Metrics was founded in Oxford in 1984 and has offices in the UK, Ireland, the US and Germany.

Why did Vicon’s owner warn of a loss in October 2026? Oxford Metrics said trading since June fell below the Board’s expectations. It named changes in Vicon’s established end markets, pressure on research funding and delays to major industrial projects. Vicon’s entertainment revenue was hit by reduced investment across film, television and games.

Is location-based entertainment demand for Vicon’s motion capture systems falling? Oxford Metrics said on 9 October 2026 that demand “remains more resilient in location-based entertainment and selected Asian markets.” Sandbox VR has run Vicon tracking since 2019.

Who will run the Vicon motion capture business from December 2026? Stefan Lampa joins Oxford Metrics’ Board as chief executive on 1 December 2026, subject to his UK right to work. Gary Bullard, non-executive chair, is interim chief executive until then.

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