Following recent layoffs affecting at least 10,000 employees, Microsoft is narrowing its ambitions on the metaverse, focusing on more focused projects.
In a post on the official blog, the company announced that on March 10 it will close AltspaceVR, the social virtual reality platform that it acquired in 2017 and which has been considered an anticipation of the metaverse that has been talked about a lot in recent months, especially thanks to the initiatives of Meta-Facebook.
Microsoft attributed the decision to terminate AltspaceVR to the need to focus on Mesh, the mixed reality world unveiled in 2021 and which will allow people to work remotely by integrating with many of the group's software, including Teams.
Indeed,
Unlike AltspaceVR which hosts events and social spaces for people to join freely, Microsoft Mesh is aimed at companies looking to collaborate remotely.
According to some US media, such as Bloomberg and Windows Central, Microsoft's strategies include not only the closure of the entire AltspaceVR team but also the reduction of the workforce that deals with the HoloLens viewers, which was expected within the year a new version.
"We look forward to what's to come, including the launch of Microsoft Mesh, a new platform for connection and collaboration, starting with enabling workplaces around the world," reads an announcement.
“We are focusing our VR efforts on professional experiences, learning more and more from the use of our early customers and partners, and ensuring we provide a platform that enables security, trust and compliance.”