If you were wondering about Microsoft's future in terms of VR/AR headsets, it's been announced that the team is discontinuing its HoloLens 2 headset line, with no replacement product expected in the future.
Microsoft's cloud communications general manager Craig Cincotta shared a message with The Verge about this decision, mentioning how the company would "continue to invest in mixed reality opportunities" beyond the production of HoloLens.
"Microsoft is no longer producing Microsoft HoloLens 2, and we have signaled a last time to buy for customers and partners. Support for HoloLens 2, including security updates will end on December 31, 2027."
"We will continue to invest in mixed reality opportunities with first-party software solutions and services, partnering with the broader mobile phone and mixed reality hardware ecosystem. In addition, we remain fully committed to the IVAS program with the US Department of Defense."
As you can see there though, the headset will continue to be used in conjunction with the US Department of Defense, even if it'll soon be unavailable for the public to buy. This reminds us a little bit of Microsoft's Kinect 2.0 sensor, which also went on to be used in scenarios outside of gaming.
Microsoft's gaming division previously noted how it wouldn't be making a VR headset for Xbox anytime soon, even though it's been teaming up with Meta Quest to create a "limited edition VR headset" - which is "inspired by Xbox".
Earlier in its life, Microsoft's HoloLens was demonstrated with Minecraft as a gaming peripheral, but it seems any sort of gaming ambitions for the headset will soon cease. For posterity, we'll throw that demonstration down below.
Do you think the VR/AR headset space is worth Microsoft's time? What about a headset for Xbox? Let us know in the comments.
[source uploadvr.com, via theverge.com]
Comments 7
They couldn't incorporate it into gaming consoles so it might as well be dead.
This was a given, they already announced WMR was ending which killed multiple major headsets. Shame, MS had a good footing on VR and is just scraping the future away to buy more cash in the present.
I wouldn't be surprised after the last Meta inference where they were discussing the Quest having a direct line through Windows.
Still waiting on that partnership to bring VR to Xbox. But doubt that will ever come.
@Utena-mobile If Micrsft could make $20 shaving the "o"'s off their name, Nadella would do it.
@InterceptorAlpha I still find it hilarious there's an "Xbox Quest 3" when all the Xbox part is is playing pancake games in big screen. I laugh every time I see the GP icon on my Quest, like, why would I play GP games on here when I could play VR games?
@NEStalgia Honestly sad to see. That Xbox edition Quest still confused me. I guess if you want black like the old Rifts.
To gh I guess had it been out when I got mine, I would have opted for the back version too.
The leg up they could have by providing native support for a wireless HMD would at least be nice.
I will say though, I use Virtual Desktop a lot to play 2D steam games like Foxhole on a movie theater screen. I've found myself using it over my 1440p/144hz monitor. 😬
@InterceptorAlpha Only problem with black is you have to get an actual comfortable strap, and none of those come in black, and if you want a custom interface, you're stuck with white frames too, so it'll look kinda bad no matter how you do it.
I think the problem for Xbox VR (at least for actual VR) would be on the software side. They don't have a native Windows/Xbox VR kit, and the one they had (WMR) they not only discontinued but are ripping out of windows in an update. They talked about that direct line to Windows for Quest, but then Windows has no support and relies on 3rd party kits, with the total cancellation of their own so that makes no sense. The other is just the consumer support side, that built in wi-fi sucks, and supporting it where they have to point people to routers and such probably is far more cost than the benefit of VR support. Even on PC it's dodgy with various router brands not playing nice, etc (I made sure to get a Qualcomm based router since QC's seem to play nice with their own XR2 chip.)
If I ever get a high res Pimax set though I might start using that as my monitor as well!
I remember an old interview of Phil talking about how Xbox would be in conversations with the holo lens and mesh teams. Unfortunate that never panned out. If they could figure it out, I'd be far more interested in AR for console gaming than VR.
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