Whereas corporations like Apple and Meta have been investing in their very own blended actuality headsets, Microsoft appears to be getting in the wrong way. The corporate introduced on Tuesday that it’s discontinuing HoloLens 2, its superior XR headset.
Microsoft quits the XR headset market by discontinuing HoloLens 2
In an announcement to UploadVR, Microsoft confirmed that HoloLens 2 is being discontinued. In accordance with the corporate, companions and clients thinking about shopping for HoloLens 2 can be in a position to take action till shares run out. Microsoft has dedicated to offering software program updates to repair “essential safety points” and bugs till 2027.
From 2028, the corporate will fully finish assist for HoloLens 2. In the meantime, assist for the unique HoloLens launched in 2016 will finish later this 12 months.
Microsoft HoloLens 2 was offered for a similar $3,500 worth as Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. Nonetheless, whereas Apple promotes Imaginative and prescient Professional as a product for anybody who’s thinking about it, HoloLens was completely focused at enterprise clients for the reason that product was by no means successful attributable to its excessive price ticket.
Whereas rumors recommend that Microsoft has at the very least thought-about constructing a brand new headset to raised compete with Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, particulars about this product are moderately obscure and there are not any indicators that it will likely be launched any time quickly. As an alternative, Microsoft has been working with Meta to convey its apps and companies to Quest headsets.
The truth that Microsoft is giving up on the blended actuality headset phase for now might be one other trace that the marketplace for such units is sort of small. Apple doesn’t present particulars about Imaginative and prescient Professional gross sales, however analysts recommend that demand is way decrease than anticipated. Imaginative and prescient Professional is at present offered in just a few nations, together with the US, Canada, and the UK.
Meta, however, has been placing its efforts into extra inexpensive headsets centered on media consumption and gaming. Solely time will inform whether or not clients will actually embrace the XR headsets.
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