Microsoft is discontinuing HoloLens 2 headsets - support will end after two years

Microsoft is discontinuing the production of the HoloLens 2 mixed reality headsets and seemingly has no plans for a successor.

Support for HoloLens 2, including security updates, will continue until December 31, 2027, while support for the original HoloLens will end on December 10.

“We will continue to invest in mixed reality capabilities. Additionally, we remain fully committed to the IVAS programIVAS is an augmented reality headset developed by Microsoft for the U.S. Army. in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense,” wrote Craig Singleton, Microsoft’s General Manager of Cloud Communications.

Microsoft first unveiled the HoloLens headset in 2015, envisioning that augmented reality glasses would form the foundation of future virtual worlds. Similar to the Apple VisionPro, the HoloLens carries a hefty price tag of $3,500. The headset runs on a special version of Windows 10 Holographic powered by the Snapdragon 850 processor.

In 2019, Microsoft released the second generation of HoloLens headsets, featuring an improved field of view (which was a major source of user complaints in the first version) and better ergonomics; the company also significantly enhanced the performance of the holographic processor for improved image stability, new hardware features, and more.

Issues with the HoloLens team at Microsoft began over the past two years - in 2022, department head Alex Kipman left the company following allegations of inappropriate behavior, and in January 2023, Microsoft partially reduced the division amid broader layoffs within the organization.

Currently, Microsoft has partnered with defense technology company Anduril Industries, founded by Oculus VR’s Palmer Luckey, to enhance the IVAS mixed reality headsets used by the U.S. Army.

The headsets are built on HoloLens technology (but also include built-in thermal imaging sensors and night vision sensors on the display) and were first tested in 2021. The U.S. Army previously stated it plans to spend up to $21.9 billion on a 10-year contract for the IVAS project.

Source: Neowin, The Verge