Bose is acquiring Skullcandy, thereby expanding its business in headphones, earbuds, and speakers to include a brand with strong ties to sports, music, and gaming. The acquisition, announced on October 21, 2026, follows another purchase: On October 1, Bose announced the acquisition of Firelight Technologies, the Australian developer of FMOD. Both moves underscore the company’s goal of tapping into new target audiences and additional applications for its audio technology.
Skullcandy will remain an independent brand
Skullcandy will become part of Bose’s Premium Consumer Audio division but is expected to retain its own identity. Its headquarters in Park City, Utah, will also remain in place. Founded in 2003, the brand has its roots in the board sports scene and maintains ties to music, gaming, and fitness. It is precisely these communities that are of interest to Bose: According to the company, it aims to reach people among whom it has had a limited presence thus far.
Bose acquired Skullcandy from a fund managed by Mill Road Capital Management. The purchase price and other financial details remain confidential. Investments are planned to support Skullcandy’s continued growth. The brand will gain access to additional technologies, resources, and Bose’s global distribution network, while still being able to further develop its own style.
“Sound by Bose” is set to expand
The two companies are already familiar with each other from several years of collaboration. Under the name “Sound by Bose,” the new owner’s audio technology has already been incorporated into Skullcandy’s in-ear earbuds and headphones. The acquisition now continues this partnership under a single corporate umbrella.
Bose CEO Lila Snyder describes the acquisition as part of a long-term strategy: The goal is to reach more people through its own products, technology partnerships, and a growing family of brands. Skullcandy brings its design expertise, knowledge of its customer base, and connections to various communities to the table. Bose contributes audio technology, development resources, and international reach.
Firelight and FMOD bring Bose closer to game developers
Another aspect of this expansion is the acquisition of Firelight Technologies, announced on October 1, 2026. The Melbourne-based company develops FMOD, a software platform for interactive audio. It allows developers to create music and sound effects that react in real time to what’s happening in a game.
FMOD combines the design tools of FMOD Studio with a cross-platform playback engine. The software can be integrated into game engines such as Unity and Unreal, among others, and is used on consoles, computers, and mobile devices.
Bose is assigning the acquisition to its Audio Technology business unit and explicitly identifies gaming as a growth opportunity. FMOD will remain accessible to developers and partners and will continue to be developed. In the long term, Bose also plans to explore opportunities in virtual and augmented reality, in-car applications, and other areas involving interactive audio. Financial details of this acquisition were not disclosed.
From luxury hi-fi to the gaming scene
With its acquisition of the McIntosh Group in November 2024, Bose had already brought the long-established brands McIntosh and Sonus faber into the company. While these brands expand access to discerning hi-fi customers and the luxury segment, Skullcandy brings its own lifestyle and sports customer base. Firelight, in turn, provides the tools that developers use to create interactive soundscapes.
Taken together, this points to a clear direction: Bose is expanding its role as a multi-brand company and technology provider. The company aims to reach new listeners through various brands, while at the same time integrating its own audio technology into additional products and applications.
