In what was a very brief press release few details about the new agreement, that replaces the initial agreement signed in 2014, were released. The announcement does, however, put to an end several years of speculation as to the relationship between Imagination and Apple, as well as the role that Imagination’s IP will play in Apple’s latest GPU designs.
In 2017 Apple was said to have told Imagination that they would be winding down the use of Imagination’s IP and would be using a new custom GPU that would replace Imagination’s designs and IP entirely. The announcement saw Imagination’s stock price tumble, and ended up with the company being acquired by Canyon Bridge for $550mn.
This announcement is certainly good news for Imagination as it removes a degree of uncertainty as to the company's future, and confirms that Apple will continue to contribute to the company’s revenues going forward.
Analysts have said that while any details on Apple’s latest GPU designs are limited they will be based on Imagination’s GPU architecture IP, which would make them unique as there are no GPU architectures licensed in the market at present.
