According to latest reports, Microsoft has reportedly scrapped its plan for its HaloLens 3. In recent months, the tech giant has put an end to its plans regarding the headset.
Proclaimed Exit of HaloLens 3
In a piece of recent news, the future of Microsoft’s HaloLens has reportedly become uncertain. This is because the company struggles to put together a coherent mixed reality strategy. According to sources, the company has scrapped its plan regarding what could have been the HaloLens 3 in the upcoming months—giving signs of the end of the headset.
Sources further suggest that Microsoft inked a deal to team up with Samsung to develop a brand new mixed reality device, and this has caused an internal divide within the mixed reality division.
Mixed Responses to the Claim
On one hand, Microsoft spokesperson Frank Shaw denied the closure of HaloLens and labeled it a ‘critical part of the company’s plans for emerging categories like mixed reality and the metaverse.’ He further added “We remain committed to HoloLens and future HoloLens development.” Microsoft has, however, refused to provide a word concerning the proclaimed partnership with Samsung.
On the other hand, employees within the mixed reality unit stated different factions within the team are arguing about which areas to focus on. While some believe that the team should double down on its own hardware, the rest think it is better to develop a software platform for the metaverse that can be used by other companies.
Microsoft’s Plans for Metaverse
Moreover, other people are arguing whether Microsoft should continue focusing on creating products for enterprise customers or whether the company should create products for consumers.
Common arguments concern that Microsoft’s mixed reality team should fulfill military contracts.
According to Rubén Caballero, a former Apple executive, Microsoft hired to head up device engineering for the HoloLens and other projects, back in 2020, who it reportedly wants to focus on consumers and the metaverse. He also added that there is apparently confusion on what the team’s focus should be that Microsoft lost 25 mixed reality employees to Meta in 2021, including veterans who had been with the company for over 20 years.
One thing which is vivid from the surfing claim is that Microsoft holds huge plans for the Metaverse. When the company announced its purchase of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, it said the acquisition will provide building blocks for the metaverse. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said, “Gaming is the most dynamic and exciting category in entertainment across all platforms today and will play a key role in the development of metaverse platforms.”
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