Microsoft Discontinuing Mixed Reality HoloLens 2 Headset

Microsoft HoloLens: RIP, or Just Resting in Pieces?

Well, folks, it looks like Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 – the headset that promised to blend our world with the digital one – is heading to the great tech graveyard in the sky. Or at least, the back of a dusty warehouse. According to UploadVR, production is winding down and they’ll stop selling them once they’ve cleared out the remaining stock.

So, what does this mean for all you mixed-reality enthusiasts? Well, if you’ve already shelled out the big bucks for a HoloLens 2, you’ll still get security updates until the end of 2027. But after that, you’re on your own, buddy. No more software support, no more bug fixes, just you and your potentially outdated headset.

Now, Microsoft wasn’t exactly the first kid on the block with mixed reality, but they jumped in headfirst back in 2016 with the original HoloLens, and then again in 2019 with the HoloLens 2. But let’s be real, these things were never cheap. They were aimed squarely at businesses, not your average gamer looking for a new way to blast zombies.

But here’s the kicker – it doesn’t look like Microsoft has any plans for a HoloLens 3 anytime soon. There were whispers of one back in 2022, but apparently, it got the axe. Seems like they were facing some development challenges and internal confusion over their mixed reality strategy. And to add insult to injury, they’ve been trimming down their mixed reality team throughout 2023 and 2024.

But wait, there’s a glimmer of hope! Microsoft is still working on the HoloLens IVAS – that’s “integrated visual augmentation system” for those who don’t speak military acronym. It’s basically an AR headset designed for the U.S. Army, and they’re planning to test it out in early 2025 to see if it’s ready for prime time, or at least, prime battlefield.

So, while Microsoft seems to be scaling back its mixed reality dreams, it’s not giving up entirely. They’ve teamed up with Meta to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming and their Office apps to the Quest headsets, and they’re even working on integrating Windows 11 with the Quest.

Meanwhile, Apple’s Vision Pro is trying to play both sides of the field, targeting both consumers and businesses. But it’s got the same problem as the HoloLens – a price tag that would make your wallet weep. Still, Apple isn’t throwing in the towel just yet. They’ve got another version of the Vision Pro in the works, and it could be hitting the shelves as early as 2025.

So, is this the end of the road for Microsoft’s mixed reality ambitions? Or are they just regrouping and waiting for the right moment to strike back? Only time will tell, folks. Only time will tell.