This week, reports are circulating on social media platforms such as Linkedin highlighting how Hololens/Microsoft Mixed Reality Partners are receiving “last time to buy” incentives for the Hololens 2 device while also noting that first-generation HoloLens devices will soon receive a final update.
Regarding the HoloLens 2, Microsoft is reportedly announcing a “last time to buy” period, meaning that the firm will sell its remaining units on a first-come, first-served basis.
The remaining devices will only be available via Microsoft directly or through official resellers; warranty and customer/developer support remain unchanged following the news.
While the news appears to be the final nail in the HoloLens 2 coffin, Microsoft still plans to support the device through updates that impact security and “major functionalities” until December 31st, 2027.
Alongside the last-time to-buy announcement, Microsoft also told its Hololens/Mixed Reality Partner community that the first generation HoloLens headset will receive its final update this year, December 10th, 2024.
The news comes after the legacy device underwent a multi-year, Long-Term Servicing state in 2021. Following the final December 10th update, HoloLens 1 devices will no longer receive security or software support. However, the device will still function, but Microsoft recommends that users upgrade to a HoloLens 2 product.
What does this mean for HoloLens?
The news appears somewhat bleak following multiple years of decline for the HoloLens.
However, the news may also be a sign of exciting news to come. With the slow drop off of HoloLens first—and second-generation support, it could highlight how Microsoft is moving towards a new and exciting MR headset—similar to how Meta recently shut down Spark AR to suit its upcoming AR smart glasses, which includes breakthrough neural interface technology.
On the other hand, the news may be another step towards HoloLens’s decline, which mirrors recent updates from the once-leading MR headset.
The US Army announced that it is looking for new partners to develop the next version of its Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), a mixed-reality headset for military use originally based on HoloLens technology.
While the Army has previously worked with Microsoft and its HoloLens division, recent reports suggest that they are considering partnering with a different company for the next iteration of the device.
The potential contract for the new IVAS device is significant, with the previous agreement with Microsoft estimated at $22 billion. Despite Microsoft’s reduced focus on immersive technologies, they are still interested in retaining the Army contract.
In an official statement at the time, Microsoft added:
Microsoft fully intends and is prepared to compete for IVAS Next. We remain committed to delivering the industry’s best capabilities for our warfighters.
Over the past year, Microsoft’s XR hardware division has faced challenges. As a result, the company has announced significant layoffs that affected around 1,000 positions in its HoloLens and Azure Cloud divisions. This has raised questions about developing the HoloLens 2 hardware and its Azure “Moonshot” projects, which involve partnerships with companies like SpaceX to improve highly complex operations.
About a year ago, Microsoft let go of about 10,000 employees, and it seems to be streamlining its XR and cloud division without impacting its AI teams, which remain a core focus for the company following its partnership with OpenAI.
Microsoft spokesperson Craig Cincotta added at the time:
We will continue to invest in W365 to reach the broader Mixed Reality hardware ecosystem. We will continue to sell HoloLens 2 while supporting existing HoloLens 2 customers and partners. – Organizational and workforce adjustments are a necessary and regular part of managing our business. We will continue to prioritize and invest in strategic growth areas for our future and in support of our customers and partners.
Is a New Microsoft Headset Coming?
Despite the recent HoloLens news series, Microsoft recently filed a patent request revealing a potential first look at a new pair of AR smart glasses.
In two USPTO filings, titled “Composite Pores Estimate For Wearable Computing Device” and “Resolution Enhancement in Spatial-Frequency Space,” Microsoft appears to be developing AR smart glasses with Co-Pilot genAI integration.
It’s important to note that patents do not always indicate a firm’s upcoming products or hardware. However, filings can provide insight into a firm’s interest in specific technology markets, similar to the pile-up of Apple Vision Pro patents that preceded an official announcement from Apple.
The recent Microsoft patents notably highlight that the firm has been working on the potential upcoming product since at least 2023.
The filings show that Microsoft is experimenting with a unique Windows OS for spatial computing, possibly Windows Holographic, which can detect a user’s environment and interactions, similar to the Apple Vision Pro spatial computing framework.
Furthermore, the filings demonstrate how Microsoft uses AI to process spatial information captured by the device’s camera, potentially indicating CoPilot integration for Meta Ray-Ban-style virtual assistant services.
While the details are limited, the filings emphasize that Microsoft’s device research aims to be accessible, including support for low-light conditions. Apart from technical information, the filings do not reveal much more about HoloLens’s potential successor.
