Microsoft is discontinuing HoloLens development by 2027

Executive summary

Welcome to your weekly briefing on the metaverse and spatial computing. Here are your snippets to sound smarter in meetings this week:

• Top Story: Microsoft confirms that it is leaving behind HoloLens hardware development after 2027 (analysis below).

• Other stories: Insight is a London meetup with its next edition coming on 27 February, and Virtual Worlds Museum has launched its Kickstarter campaign to fund the development of new exhibits and expand its collection (more stories below).

Top story

Microsoft confirms that it is leaving behind HoloLens hardware development after 2027. 

• What happened? The Verge got clarification from Microsoft mixed reality CVP Robin Seiler. He said: "We are transitioning away from hardware development but will continue to provide support for HoloLens2 hardware and software through 2027, as announced in October. We remain committed to the IVAS program and will shift our focus to cloud and AI technologies, which will serve as the foundation for IVAS as a situational awareness platform."

• What is the wider significance? Compared to Google and Samsung, Microsoft is working less on immersive technologies. Microsoft discontinued the HoloLens 2, and has lost the Army contract to Anduril. it is now less clear if the company has a wider immersive technology strategy. 

Other stories

• Astral City has launched as a new Emerging Technology Studio focused on spatial computing, immersive technology, and AI-driven experiences. 

• The Barbican Centre's Feel the Sound exhibition runs from 22 May to 31 August 2025, featuring 11 sound-focused installations, including six new commissions, across various spaces, including its underground car park. 

• Birmingham schools are using VR workshops by Virtual Decisions and West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership to educate students on the dangers of gang culture and criminal exploitation. 

• Humble Bundle has launched a VR game development course bundle from Mammoth Interactive, featuring over 30 courses, including exclusives on Godot 4 WebXR and Unreal 5.5, with proceeds supporting Children's Miracle Network. 

• Insight is a London meetup with its next edition coming on 27 February.

• The OPENVERSE project has launched the OPENVERSE Observatory, a knowledge hub showcasing Virtual Worlds projects, case studies, and technologies across Europe, covering AI, AR/VR, digital twins, and more. 

• PlayCanvas has announced a major update to SuperSplat, its open-source platform for editing and publishing 3D Gaussian Splats. 

• Virtual Worlds Museum has launched its Kickstarter campaign to fund the development of new exhibits and expand its collection. 

Note: The Immersive Wire is run by Tom Ffiske, who also works at Accenture. The contents of the newsletter should not be regarded as Accenture’s views.