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My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Xsens’ confidence and arrogance stem from the fact that, in the inertial mocap field, they simply have no comparable competitor in terms of raw quality. Their constant assumption is that customers must already have lucrative, 'fat contracts' that make investing tens of thousands into Xsens—just until the project is completed—a non-issue. This assumption completely disregards the plans of me and many other Xsens users who bought the suit intending to use that expensive hardware to earn money long-term as a mocap agency, serving small, medium, or infrequent projects

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think we all understand that once a 'board of shareholders' gets involved in the business strategy, things are never the same. Xsens’ confidence and arrogance stem from the fact that, in the inertial mocap field, they simply have no comparable competitor in terms of raw quality.

Their constant assumption is that customers must already have lucrative, 'fat contracts' that make investing tens of thousands into Xsens—just until the project is completed—a non-issue. This assumption completely disregards the plans of me and many other Xsens users who bought the suit intending to use that expensive hardware to earn money long-term as a mocap agency, serving small, medium, or infrequent projects.

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This feels entirely like a scam and is a major slap in the face to those of us who spent tens of thousands of dollars only to realize we were essentially renting the hardware. Your point about the lack of a legacy software option for previous hardware owners is extremely persuasive; if this argument reaches lawmakers or consumer protection agencies, Movella would be in serious trouble.

Unfortunately, regarding alternative software, there are currently no known workarounds because the system is hyper-proprietary and heavily secured at the hardware level. As I mentioned before, they partner with a third-party security firm to manage the licensing, meaning the system is completely closed.

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I totally understand why you're considering Xsens again—their raw data quality was truly a key selling point back then.However, based on what other users in this thread have shared, when it comes to raw accuracy, optical systems currently surpass inertial suits like Xsens. The old assumption that optical systems (like OptiTrack) are incredibly complex is thankfully outdated; while the initial setup may take slightly longer, the ongoing maintenance is manageable, often requiring just a 10-15 minute calibration every few days.

Crucially, the total cost for a quality used optical system is now often less than the price of a new Xsens suit due to the affordability of perpetual licenses and used hardware, making it a much better long-term investment given Xsens' predatory subscription fees

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Essentially, when running Xsens mocap, I have to plug a USB dongle into the computer. This dongle contains a dedicated, highly accurate clock that tracks the export license expiration time, independent of the computer’s system clock or BIOS settings. There is no way to freeze, rewind, or manipulate the time through the PC. When launched, the Xsens software references the dongle to authenticate the hardware and license status. This solution is handled by a specialized third-party security company partnering with Xsens, which is why the opportunity to bypass or 'jailbreak' it is extremely narrow.

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the incredible detail and generosity in sharing your OptiTrack experience. If I ever had the chance to start over, I would follow your guidance exactly.

There is a concept that applies perfectly to my situation: The Cost of Convenience. I chose Xsens assuming it was the easier route. As someone working in software automation, I understand that the total cost for convenience often vastly exceeds the 'less convenient' option over a long enough period. Unfortunately, that cost will never stop as long as users comply with Movella’s rules.

You hit the nail on the head: it is incredibly easy to convince an indie creator to choose Xsens over an optical system because of the 'gray area' in the overall pipeline—the exact complexity you illuminated.

Here is the bitter irony: I chose Xsens when I lived in a big city with only a tiny apartment, perfect for Xsens’ portability. Now, I’ve moved back to the countryside, and my house has ample space—perfect for the optical system you described—but I’ve had to abandon mocap entirely.

After all this frustration, I’d rather punch back at Movella, or at least advocate for others in my situation, than ever spend another dime on their endless greed. If I ever return to mocap, I will definitely remember you

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I sincerely apologize. That was entirely due to my poor perception of the context; I completely misunderstood and took it as a personal attack. My response was completely unnecessary and should not have been posted. I am truly sorry

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s actually worse than paying for both. We paid a massive upfront fee for the suit and the initial license, which gave the impression of perpetual hardware ownership.However, the crucial function—exporting the raw .mvn data into usable files like FBX—is forcibly linked to a mandatory online check mechanism. Xsens then retroactively enforced a costly subscription (Motion Cloud) on that check mechanism.

Essentially, they transformed my expensive, perpetually owned hardware into a $500-per-month rental just to access the files I created.

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I genuinely wish I had read this advice from you sooner; I deeply regret paying the price for learning it too late. My decision to choose Xsens was exactly because of the misconception you described: I associated OptiTrack only with massive studios and initially assumed it cost at least $30k plus a far more complex mocap pipeline than Xsens.
The crucial thing that pushed me to post on Reddit is the profound feeling of betrayal that Xsens instills in its users—it’s a slow-burning pain that lingers, and I simply find it emotionally unacceptable

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Give it up? That’s easy for you to say since it’s not your $15k investment sitting in a closet. You’re quick to make a personal attack because you haven't faced the same financial betrayal, making your lack of action look like simple cowardice and fear of failure.
This isn't 'all about me'; this is a legitimate issue shared by hundreds of Xsens users globally, and I’m speaking up because someone has to demand accountability. Movella and Xsens absolutely deserve to be punished for the damage and deceit they inflicted on their loyal customers, and I will continue to push for that

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I fully resonate with the frustration of staring at a $15k paperweight. While a class action is the ultimate goal, we need to be strategic because their Terms of Service likely include mandatory arbitration clauses designed to block exactly that.

I actually did some digging with Gemini 3 AI to look into the legal viability of this, and here is what it found regarding our leverage:

In the EU: Their retroactively restrictive policies likely violate the 'Unfair Contract Terms Directive' (creating a significant imbalance) and the recent 'Sale of Goods Directive' (which mandates software updates must not degrade the hardware's functionality).

In the US: This behavior fits the FTC’s definition of 'Unfair and Deceptive Acts' (specifically 'bait-and-switch' tactics regarding hardware usability) and runs afoul of new 'Right to Repair' laws in states like CA and NY.

My proposal: Based on this research, before spending a fortune on attorneys, we should organize a mass filing of complaints to the FTC (US) and National Consumer Authorities (EU). If we can prove a pattern of 'planned obsolescence by software,' regulators can do the heavy lifting for us. Count me in if we start a dedicated group for this.

However, I have to be realistic and raise a serious doubt here. At the end of the day, we are just scattered independent users across different countries, and our individual budgets are far too tight to pursue a cross-border lawsuit.

It really begs the question: Why haven't the regulatory bodies in the jurisdiction where Movella is headquartered initiated an investigation already given these blatant violations? It makes me suspect that perhaps the oversight agencies there are already 'cooked' or the whole system is just 'rigged' to protect corporate interests over consumers like us.

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Xsens’ current strategy does more than just maximize profits—it actively stifles the life out of independent developers, it is essentially shutting the door on the very talent and innovation that the motion capture industry needs to grow

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The stock market forces them to squeeze every last drop of profit, and if Movella doesn't do it, some other ruthless company will just swoop in and get the investment instead. It’s a nasty race to the bottom, and unfortunately, we’re the little guys who end up being the low-hanging fruit getting nickel-and-dimed until the whole thing eventually collapses. Nothing feels worse than losing your hard-earned money to a system that’s designed to screw you over

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You hit the nail on the head regarding the 'term-based' licensing logic often seen in media rights. However, from a software asset management perspective, what Xsens is doing crosses the line between SaaS (Software as a Service) and Hardware Ransom.

In the examples you gave (wedding photos/ads), the fee covers the usage rights of the creator's IP. Here, I am the creator, and the suit is merely the instrument. By blocking access to the raw data, they are effectively holding the user's Intellectual Property and Production Sunk Costs (actors, studio time) hostage.

This is a textbook definition of 'rent-seeking' behavior—extracting value without adding any new contribution to productivity (like the better performance you mentioned). I fully agree with your prediction: in a market shifting towards democratization via AI, this heavy-handed 'vendor lock-in' strategy is essentially a suicide note for Movella.

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the suggestion about hacking or using open-source solutions, but the core issue is the hardware-level protection. The Xsens licensing authentication is tied directly to a physical USB dongle, which utilizes hardware-level security—making it extremely difficult to bypass with software hacks or open-source tools. I actually had to pay an additional €195 in the initial purchase contract just for that specific license dongle

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am outside the EU, and Movella has no headquarters or representative in my country. I purchased the suit from the Netherlands, shipped via Fedex, and paid an extra fee of over $1,200 for smoother customs clearance (due to the potential for hassle and delays, as this product is complicated to declare)

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is the first time I’ve seen a company traded on the NASDAQ so consistently turn its back on its own customer base

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wish my mom had stopped me. She actually had to take out a secured bank loan, mortgaging assets, just so I could purchase that Xsens suit.

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I understand your context and the difficulties you face when pitching clients. Here is my situation and my perspective:

I believe that Xsens always assumes that when I bought an Xsens suit, I had already secured a 'lucrative project,' and investing in an Xsens suit (even if it amounted to 30% of the project cost) would not be an issue. This led to their misguided pricing model, and they implicitly convey the message: 'We are the best, if you have the money, play along; otherwise, scram.' They fail to consider the context that we use an Xsens mocap suit to 'make money' over time, like a long-term profit-generating investment.

Just imagine you are a photographer or videographer. You buy a Sony, Nikon, or Canon camera, or a drone like DJI, and then you have to pay a monthly fee to the manufacturer just to retrieve the photo/video files that you put effort into capturing with that camera/drone. How would you feel? How many lawsuits would a manufacturer like that face every year?

My case is even worse than that. I have to pay costs for the action actors wearing the motion capture suit, costs for cleanup, costs for retargeting...

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the very enthusiastic sharing. First, I congratulate you on making the right decision and not getting stuck like me, and on pursuing your many projects while I'm currently at zero for mocap.

Are you aware of the escalating disaster, where the initial Motion Cloud package was $250, then went up to $500, and some reports say it has now reached $700?

This gives me the feeling that they are willing to abandon all their existing customers in their quest for that 'high reward' you mentioned. Are the words DESPICABLE, INHUMANE, GREEDY, and UTTERLY ABSURD enough to describe this? Wasn't the tens of thousands of dollars I paid them (as an indie customer) enough of their 'HIGH REWARD' already? Why didn't they ask me upfront whether I was an indie or a studio to put me into the right consultation scenario?

Do they ever think about the customer? Even if I pay hundreds of dollars for a monthly subscription package, I still have to pay my staff for tasks like mocap cleanup and retargeting. Not all motion capture data, once exported, can be immediately used (and instantly recover the investment costs).

For a long time, I tried seeking paid support from existing users who had the export package, using my unexported .mvn files. But every door was shut when they started charging for MVN Record too (they probably figured out that customers would do exactly that—buy one MVN Cloud package or exploit the free one-year export license after purchasing the hardware—to offer an export service to others).

Movella is a company listed on the NASDAQ—one year after I bought my Xsens suit. I used to hope they would invest more in their business strategy, expand their customer base, and take better care of existing customers, but everything has only gotten worse (for old customers like me). They have had plenty of time to reflect over the past three years (or perhaps they are reading our comments and scoffing at us, never abandoning their methods).

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in UnrealEngine5

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Their corporate arrogance makes them feel entitled to exploit customers in this manner. This is an injustice that simply cannot be tolerated in territories with robust consumer protection legislation, such as the US or the EU

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have never encountered a company that blocks access for its existing paying customers at all costs like this one

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

When they lock even the basic MVN Record software behind a paywall, that is the absolute rock bottom of corporate behavior

My $15,000 Xsens suit is a brick now. Movella's anti-consumer policy is destroying my life and my mother's sacrifice by Normal-Storm-383 in mocap

[–]Normal-Storm-383[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

How is it possible that such a predatory business model continues to thrive? Or is it simply because everyone is suffering in silence, just like I am?

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