It feels like just yesterday we were experimenting with the first HoloLens and intrigued by its potential. Despite its limited field of view, it gave a glimpse of an exciting, futuristic world. However, being the first to innovate or having a groundbreaking idea doesn’t always guarantee success — you have to convince people, and Microsoft has struggled with that in certain areas. Even when HoloLens 2 came out, which offered improvements, there still seemed to be a sense of skepticism around its adoption.
We must bid farewell to HoloLens, as not even the U.S. Army support could save this hardware line from its unfortunate demise. Microsoft has officially discontinued the HoloLens, leaving it as a memory in the tech landscape across all markets.
Goodbye to Microsoft HoloLens
Microsoft has officially ended production of its HoloLens 2, with no plans for a successor. According to reports from UploadVR, while HoloLens 2 will continue to receive critical security and software updates until 2027, its production has ceased. Additionally, general support for the device will be discontinued on December 10.
The HoloLens journey began in 2015 with Microsoft positioning the device as a key player in the future of augmented reality (AR). In 2019, the HoloLens 2 was introduced, featuring a wider field of view, eye-tracking technology, and enhanced specifications. Despite these advancements, Microsoft faced mounting challenges with the HoloLens project in recent years.
The departure of Alex Kipman, the former head of HoloLens, in 2022 amid misconduct allegations, followed by significant layoffs within Microsoft’s hardware teams in 2023, signaled ongoing difficulties.
There remains uncertainty regarding the future of HoloLens. While plans for HoloLens 3 were scrapped, Microsoft has hinted at a possible “significant hardware update” in the future, though no concrete plans have been announced.
Currently, Microsoft has shifted its focus to a partnership with Anduril Industries, a military tech company founded by Palmer Luckey, creator of Oculus VR. This collaboration is centered on the IVAS (Integrated Visual Augmentation System), an AR headset based on HoloLens technology for military use.
The IVAS system, which includes thermal imaging and night vision capabilities, began testing in 2021, with the U.S. military investing up to $21.9 billion over a 10-year contract. Despite challenges with IVAS, Microsoft is working on improvements, with further testing scheduled for early 2025. Whether this project will revive interest in AR remains to be seen.
