Microsoft is discontinuing its consumer HoloLens headset program, marking a significant shift for the company. CEO Satya Nadella once touted HoloLens as "key" to Microsoft's future growth, a vision that ultimately did not materialize. The consumer HoloLens program is now winding down, but Microsoft will continue to collaborate with the US Army to develop a specialized version for soldiers.
Microsoft has confirmed to UploadVR that production of HoloLens 2 has ceased. Critical security updates and software regressions will be maintained until the end of 2027, but software support for HoloLens 2 will conclude in 2028. The original HoloLens, launched in 2017, will see its software support end on December 10, 2024, with production having stopped in 2018.
Despite ending the consumer HoloLens program, Microsoft remains committed to its partnership with the United States military to create a tailored version for soldiers. The US Army plans to conduct an operational test in 2025 to decide on full-scale production. These headsets, known as the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), are an evolution of Microsoft's HoloLens technology. The Army intends to invest over $20 billion over a decade in research and development for this new soldier technology.
HoloLens was initially hailed as a groundbreaking consumer product when announced in 2015. Before the discontinuation announcement, Microsoft's recent mass layoffs impacted the HoloLens team. HoloLens boss Alex Kipman departed Microsoft in 2022 amid allegations of misconduct.
