Next Microsoft HoloLens won't be released for two more years

While Oculus and HTC battle it out for VR gamers, Microsoft plans to take its time over HoloLens

The next iteration of Microsoft's enterprise-focused virtual reality headset, the Microsoft HoloLens, is unlikely to appear for at least two years.

The computer giant told Computing's sister site The Inquirer last month that it was working on new versions of its mixed-reality headset, after revealing that the first iteration of HoloLens has made its way into the hands of just 'thousands' of developers and enterprise customers.

That compares to sales in the hundreds of thousands for HTC's Vive headset, which the company developed with Valve Software, the creator of the popular Steam gaming website and application.

But while competition for virtual reality headset technology heats up, the next-gen HoloLens won't be coming anytime soon, though. That's according to sources who spoke to Thurrott's Brad Sams, who claim that Microsoft is dumping the second version of its HoloLens headset and skipping straight to version three.

Microsoft decision to skip an iteration is because, according to Thurrott, the firm has a large lead in the augmented reality space and isn't under pressure to release a product that is only an incremental update.

"By skipping what was version two on their roadmap, the company can accelerate version three which will be closer to a generational leap and help keep Microsoft ahead of the competition," the report notes.

Commenting on the report, a Microsoft spokesperson said: "Mixed reality is the future of computing, and Microsoft HoloLens is the future and present of mixed reality. Our commitment requires no roadmap."

This somewhat contradicts comments from Roger Walkden, Microsoft's HoloLens commercial lead, who said last month: "The roadmap does exist, and we now that at this point this is the only device we've got, and the only one we need in order to get people started on their journey."

Beyond the fact that it won't be coming until 2019 - more than four years after the original version made its debut, we don't know much about the so-called Microsoft HoloLens v3. However, it likely will be smaller than the first iteration, and likely will offer improvements in the performance and battery life departments.