Microsoft is discontinuing HoloLens 2 and has no plans to introduce a replacement

While companies like Apple and Meta are investing in their own mixed reality headsets, Microsoft seems to be moving in the opposite direction direction The company announced on Tuesday that it is discontinuing HoloLens 2, its advanced XR headset.

Microsoft is exiting the XR headset market, discontinuing HoloLens 2

In a statement for UploadVR Microsoft has confirmed that HoloLens 2 is no longer being produced. According to the company, partners and customers interested in purchasing HoloLens 2 will be able to do so while supplies last. Microsoft has committed to providing software updates to fix “critical security issues” and bugs until 2027.

Starting in 2028, the company will completely stop supporting HoloLens 2. Meanwhile, support for the original HoloLens, introduced in 2016, will end at the end of this year.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

The Microsoft HoloLens 2 sold for the same $3,500 as the Apple Vision Pro. However, while Apple is promoting the Vision Pro as a product for anyone interested in it, the HoloLens was aimed entirely at enterprise customers, as the product never became a hit due to its high price tag.

Although rumors suggest that Microsoft is at least considering a new headset to better compete with Apple's Vision Pro, details about the product are pretty sketchy, and there's no indication that it will be released anytime soon. Instead, Microsoft is partnering with Meta to bring its apps and services to Quest headsets.

The fact that Microsoft is abandoning the mixed reality headset segment for now could be another hint that the market for such of devices is quite small. Apple hasn't released details on Vision Pro sales, but analysts suggest demand is much lower than expected. The Vision Pro is currently only sold in a handful of countries, including the US, Canada, and the UK.

Meta, on the other hand, has focused its efforts on more affordable headsets aimed at media consumption and gaming. Only time will tell if consumers will actually embrace XR headsets.