Microsoft could lay off 1,000 staff following employment cuts announced by the tech giant
Layoffs at Microsoft: An email from a Microsoft representative verified the news of the company's reorganisation of its Mixed Reality division.
Microsoft recently announced layoffs, with a focus mostly on its mixed reality division, which is in charge of producing the AR headset HoloLens 2. Microsoft affirms that support for the HoloLens 2 and the Department of Defense's IVAS programme will continue in spite of this.
Microsoft confirms new round of layoffs: The mixed reality team, which makes the augmented reality headset HoloLens 2, is the main target of the company's layoffs. Over a thousand workers are reportedly being asked to quit, according to CNBC.
In an email to CNBC, a Microsoft representative acknowledged, "Earlier today we announced a restructuring of Microsoft's Mixed Reality organisation."
The HoloLens 2 as well as AR-related projects won't be impacted by the layoffs. "We are still totally dedicated to the IVAS programme of the Department of Defence, and we will keep providing state-of-the-art technology to our soldiers." We also intend to keep funding W365 in order to access a wider range of Mixed Reality gear. As we support our current HoloLens 2 partners and consumers, we will keep selling HoloLens 2," the representative stated.
The "company's Strategic Missions and Technologies organisation, which aims to sell Microsoft's cloud software and server rentals for businesses with highly specified needs such as telecom firms and space companies," is reportedly the target of several job losses, according to a report by The Information.
For some time now, Microsoft has been reducing the amount of money it invests in the mixed reality division. It discontinued Windows Mixed Reality in December 2023, along with a number of tools for mixed-reality headsets. Microsoft did, however, reaffirm its commitment to HoloLens at the time. It is not affected by this deprecation for HoloLens. Microsoft stated, as cited by CNBC, "We remain committed to HoloLens and our enterprise customers."
