A few weeks ago, Microsoft released a statement about their 10,000-employee layoff.

This layoff was said to have hit the mixed reality department pretty hard, and many were concerned about the future of Microsoft’s mixed reality endeavors.

Several days ago the CVP of Windows & Devices at Microsoft, Robin Seiler, posted a blog to address the situation.

Read on to learn more!

Seiler said that Microsoft continues to manufacture new HoloLens 2 headsets and other forms of mixed-reality hardware. New updates are also in the works so that the HoloLens can leverage its capabilities in critical working environments.

Additionally, Dynamics 365 Guides and Remote Assist updates are coming for the customers that need them the most.

After the layoff, Microsoft released some news about the development of their Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program. The program experienced some snags in Congress because they don’t have enough money to buy more HoloLens headsets this year.

Seiler wrote that since the company contracted with the military, the partnership has been smooth, and the entity always gets back with suggestions quickly. The lack of funding simply stems from the congressional budget, and it is an issue that is sure to be resolved with time.

Although Microsoft has been promoting the HoloLens 2 headset since 2019, there are still a few years ahead of us before we see anything about a HoloLens 3. As we covered in a previous blog post, in order for the HoloLens 3 to come to fruition, it would need to be a truly meaningful update.

Seiler talked about the developments for the Mixed Reality Toolkit (MRTK). This project aims to allow developers to develop cross-platform mixed-reality apps. As of today, the MRTK is still an open-source project, and Microsoft insists that maintaining compatibility between MRTK and HoloLens 2 is high on their priority list.

Lastly, there was an announcement regarding Microsoft Mesh. This platform is Microsoft’s new vision for the metaverse after the company decided to scrap its social VR platform AltSpaceVR. New features are being previewed, and consumers should be seeing updates in the next few months.

Although the mixed reality department was hit pretty hard by the company’s layoff, it doesn’t seem like Microsoft has any worries about their mixed reality productions. Updates and developments continue to span even after the firing, which seems to be a positive indicator that things are running smoothly.

The future of mixed reality is an exciting one, and Microsoft is one of the leaders in the field. Although jobs were lost, it’s reassuring to know that the advancements of this top competitor won’t experience any negative side effects.

To learn more about Microsoft mixed reality or mixed reality as a whole, contact an Ultimate Technologies Group Representative today!