Microsoft laid off extra workers in its blended actuality division.
The corporate confirmed the layoffs to CNBC, saying they affected “some” employees in its blended actuality division, which works on HoloLens. Microsoft advised CNBC it nonetheless plans to promote each HoloLens 2 and its militarized IVAS variant.
Microsoft laid off blended actuality employees final 12 months too, suggesting the division is now a lot smaller than when actively growing HoloLens headsets.
In 2022 Enterprise Insider reported a tool that might have been named HoloLens 3 was canceled in 2021 following “confusion and strategic uncertainty” and the formation of a partnership with Samsung, which might have dealt with {hardware} as a substitute. However that partnership apparently was a “shit present”, and Samsung is now working with Google as a substitute. And final 12 months Microsoft’s long-time blended actuality figurehead Alex Kipman left the corporate.
Microsoft introduced late final 12 months it is deprecating its PC Home windows Combined Actuality platform that powered PC VR headsets from Asus, Acer, Lenovo, Dell, HP, and Samsung. The software program will not be accessible to obtain from November 2026.
Microsoft Publicizes Home windows Volumetric Apps For Quest
Microsoft introduced Home windows Volumetric Apps, a brand new API for extending parts of PC purposes, streamed to Meta Quest headsets, into 3D area.
Following the collapse of Microsoft’s personal XR platform and {hardware} ambitions it shaped a partnership with Meta in late 2022.
Up to now that partnership has introduced Xbox Cloud Gaming to Quest, progressive net apps for Phrase, Excel, and PowerPoint, and VR conferences in Groups.
The 2 firms are additionally engaged on a limited-edition Quest 3 with Xbox branded colours and an Xbox gamepad included within the field.
However extra importantly, Microsoft plans to launch a Home windows app for Quest, permitting customers to entry a neighborhood PC or lease a Home windows 365 cloud PC. Whereas accessing a neighborhood PC on Quest is already doable by way of apps like Horizon Workrooms, Digital Desktop, and Immersed, Microsoft’s answer will help a brand new Home windows Volumetric API which might lengthen 3D parts of Home windows purposes into 3D area.
Microsoft might someday plan to relaunch its personal XR platform platform and new {hardware}. However for the foreseeable future, it seems its technique is to carry its Home windows, Xbox, Workplace, and Groups providers to XR by way of Meta’s platform as a substitute.
