It has been several years since Microsoft released the HoloLens 2, which means that it could be due for a refresh. This is especially so when you consider the rumors that Apple is apparently planning their own mixed reality headset, so obviously this will not be a market that Microsoft would want to so willingly cede to Apple.
However, that may no longer be the case. According to a report from Business Insider (paywall), it seems that Microsoft has killed their plans for a HoloLens 3. The report cites their sources in which apparently, Microsoft inked a deal with Samsung to help develop a new mixed reality headset.
Unfortunately, this deal with Samsung did not sit well with some members of the team, leading to a divide. Some of the team believed that the partnership with Samsung would allow them to focus on developing the software platform, while others believed that Microsoft should double down on their own hardware instead.
The company has since denied the report where according to Microsoft spokesperson Frank Shaw, “We remain committed to HoloLens and future HoloLens development.” He also calls it a “critical part” of the company’s future plans like the metaverse. In any case, only time will tell if this report has any merit to it, so until then take it with a grain of salt.
Filed in . Read more about Augmented Reality (AR), Hololens, Microsoft, Virtual Reality (VR) and Wearable Tech. Source: engadget