Varjo to Discontinue Support for Older XR Headsets Next Year

Whoa, so here’s the deal with Varjo, right? They’re basically saying goodbye to their old XR headsets. Yeah, the XR-3, VR-3, and the Aero—those are ancient history now. But get this, they’re all in on the new XR-4 Series. Kind of saw it coming? Maybe. I mean, technology waits for no one, right?

So, picture this: a company in Finland decides, "Hey, let’s just stop supporting these gadgets next year." Boom, just like that. Probably because they want to jazz things up with the XR-4, which hit the scene in 2023. Gotta stay ahead, I guess?

Oh, and by the way, their software, Varjo Base, is getting a few more lifelines—but only until January 2026. Weirdly precise, but that’s the deadline. After that, if you’re still clinging to your old headset, you’re kind of on your own.

Here’s a funny tidbit, though: their third-gen gear—it was their big shot at trying to break away from being just enterprise-focused. Like, XR-3 and VR-3 were for the big spenders (seriously, $5,495 a pop, plus some extra annual fees – yikes). But Aero? That was their nod to the regular folks who were ready to part with $2,000. Niche market or what?

Aero was quite the sweetheart in its own expensive way. Ben Lang from Road to VR was all about its “stunning clarity” for VR simmers. Makes you wonder: do these simmers have endless pockets, or is the immersion just that good?

Anyway, Varjo’s shelves have been kind of bare—sold out, actually. So, no surprise they’re charging into the future with the XR-4 Series. They’re setting their sights back on enterprises, with models like the XR-4 Focal Edition at nearly ten grand! And if you’re into military-grade stuff, their Secure Edition will make your wallet weep (it’s a hefty $18k to $32k).

And just when I thought that was all, they added a twist—putting some software features behind a paywall with something called a ‘Varjo Base Pro’ license. Sneaky? Smart? Not sure. But the game is what it is.

So, if you were hoping to play around with those older gadgets, guess what? Time to upgrade or face the music. The world’s spinning forward, and so is Varjo.