HoloLens developer kits will launch early next year for $3,000

The virtual reality market is still barely more than a concept right now, because even though we keep hearing about all these companies developing virtual reality content and working on virtual reality headsets, none of them have actually been released yet. That’s why 2016 is shaping up to be the Year of Virtual Reality, because that’s when all of this stuff is expected to launch, and that goes for augmented reality as well. Aside from Google Glass, Microsoft’s HoloLens is the only significant player in the augmented reality market at the moment, and the first developer kit for the headset will be going on sale for $3,000 early next year.

The HoloLens is coming. Microsoft has finally revealed that its game-changing wearable computer glasses will be available as a developer kit in the first quarter of 2016. Unfortunately, this is not the consumer release you may be hoping for, and indeed the device will cost $3,000, placing it well out of the realms of regular consumers. Microsoft also demonstrated a new game on stage called Project X Ray. Demonstrating holdable virtual objects, the player was able to hold a weapon in their hand and shoot at enemies making their way through the walls. The HoloLens overlaid the game onto the real world, with virtual objects interacting with objects in the physical room. It’s not the first time HoloLens has showed its gaming capabilities. In September, Unity was demonstrated live on stage working with the HoloLens, with the developers promising support for the device in their cross-platform game engine. “HoloLens creates experiences that are simply not possible on any other device or any other platform,” said Terry Myerson, Microsoft vice president of the Windows and devices group.