Microsoft has officially ceased production of its HoloLens 2 mixed reality headset, signaling the company’s gradual exit from its foray into mixed reality hardware. Initially launched in 2019 as a tool primarily aimed at enterprise users, the HoloLens 2 provided innovative augmented reality (AR) capabilities. However, despite its technological achievements, the device never achieved significant mainstream adoption.

Microsoft confirmed that while no new units will be produced, existing HoloLens 2 headsets will continue to receive critical software updates, including security patches, until December 2027. Support for the original HoloLens, released in 2016, is set to end even sooner, by December 2024. The decision to discontinue production comes after challenges in adapting the device for military use, particularly through Microsoft’s partnership with the U.S. Army on its Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program.

Although HoloLens will no longer be a standalone hardware project, Microsoft has indicated plans to continue investing in mixed reality through partnerships and first-party software solutions. This could hint at potential collaborations with other companies to integrate mixed reality technology into new products, rather than developing new hardware in-house.

The discontinuation reflects Microsoft’s pivot from AR hardware toward other areas of mixed reality and suggests a broader industry shift as companies reassess the commercial viability of such technology.

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