Is Windows Mixed Reality Dead

Microsoft HoloLens 3 is reportedly dead

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Seven years later Microsoft unveiled the HoloLens AR headset during E3 2015, the future of the once-promising mixed reality headset is in doubt. A report claims that the next version of HoloLens has already been tabled, and it's unclear what Microsoft's next step will be.

The damning report from Business Insider paints a movie of disarray behind the scenes. According to the publication, the HoloLens 3 was scrapped back in the middle of last year, amongst internal conflict among the HoloLens squad.

One faction believed HoloLens should be geared toward consumers while the other believed information technology should exist focused on enterprise and the armed services. Microsoft'south decision to partner with Samsung to build the headset had besides caused division amid the squad.

Hololens 2 — (Paradigm credit: Hereafter)

The report also says that at least 25 Microsoft mixed reality employees left the company to join Facebook's Meta in 2021. It'south possible the actual number may be more than 100 employees. According to one employee, the entire HoloLens initiative has been a "south**t show."

Microsoft's Frank Shaw, however, said HoloLens is a "critical part of [the company's] plans for emerging categories like mixed reality and the metaverse." Shaw also added: "Nosotros remain committed to HoloLens and future HoloLens development."

According to the Business Insider report, Ruben Caballero, the former Apple tree executive Microsoft hired to pb HoloLens' engineering team in 2020, wanted to focus on consumers and the metaverse. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella too expressed his want to brand software for the metaverse – no thing who was making AR or VR hardware.

HoloLens headset in action — (Image credit: Time to come)

HoloLens was announced during a fourth dimension when gaming VR was just starting to proceeds traction with devices similar the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR. The HoloLens E3 demo suggested Microsoft wanted the Augmented Reality (AR) headset to be more than than just a gaming device.

Since and then, HoloLens has been used past different tech companies and the Us armed services. However, Microsoft'due south gaming plans for the device never spawned anything consumers could purchase at a shop. At present, it seems that the company won't pursue AR/VR gaming, at least with the HoloLens.

Though HoloLens three may exist dead, it'south doubtful Microsoft will completely abandon the AR/VR space, especially if it plans to push forward with whatever its plans are for the metaverse. Of course, that could exist a problem on its ain considering most people don't even know what the heck the metaverse is all about. Information technology'll be interesting to see how (or if) Microsoft's metaverse initiative will pan out or if people volition fifty-fifty care about information technology. The metaverse could end upward as dead as HoloLens, but that's a story for some other twenty-four hours.

Tony is a computing writer at Tom's Guide covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending as well much time on Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to NYC bars with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Magazine, PC Mag, and diverse contained gaming sites.