Google's Project Iris augmented reality glasses has reportedly been killed

(Image source: Google)

Google is reportedly pulling out of the AR headset game. This is according to Insider, which said it learned this from three people "familiar with the matter."

Instead, it looks like Google will now shift its attention to software, leaving the tricky matter of building actual headsets to companies with greater manufacturing know-how.

The report says Google will now focus on building a "micro XR" platform that it could license to headset manufacturers. If this sounds familiar, it's because that's what Google is doing with its Android OS.

Google's rumoured headset, Project Iris, was said to have been plagued by layoffs and constantly shifting strategies during development. Google's head of VR/VR Clay Bavor is said to have left the company four months ago, and Kurt Akeley, a notable engineer who was attached to the project, has seemingly retired.

It also hasn't helped that Apple recently unveiled its own Vision Pro headset and that it has been mostly acknowledged to be a game changer for the industry.

That said, Google's involvement with an actual headset that could ship isn't entirely over, as it's said to still be working on one with Samsung and Qualcomm.

Back in February, the trio made a vague announcement of working on a mixed-reality headset that would feature a Qualcomm chip and Google software. However, they didn't say when it would announce or unveil, much less when it would ship this headset.

Source: Insider