News Microsoft To Stop Selling HoloLens Headsets, Public Security Updates To End In 2027

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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.

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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.