Apple reportedly lays off 60 Vision employees, signaling shift in VR development

Apple Vision Team Layoffs Reported

AppleInsider reports that Apple has laid off at least 60 employees from its VR development team, specifically the Apple Vision Group. The report cites reliable sources, though Apple has not officially confirmed or commented on the layoffs.

Previous Restructuring of Vision Products Group

More than a year ago, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple had disbanded the Vision Products Group (VPG). At that time, staff were moved from a single entity combining Vision hardware and software into Apple's larger hardware and software engineering organizations. Mike Rockwell, who previously oversaw the VPG, was reportedly moved to lead the Siri revamp.

Continued Investment in Spatial Computing

Despite the reported layoffs and previous restructuring, Apple executives have publicly affirmed their commitment to spatial computing. In April, incoming CEO John Ternus described the Vision Pro as an "extraordinary product" and stated Apple was in the "early innings" of spatial computing. Steve Sinclair, Apple's Senior Director for visionOS product marketing, also stated in recent months that Apple is "invested in this platform" and continues to improve and invest in visionOS and spatial computing capabilities.

Implications for Future Hardware

Gurman's previous reporting indicated that Apple remained committed to visionOS and broader spatial-computing ambitions, but was deprioritizing major new enclosed headsets in favor of other AI wearables. The current layoffs could further indicate a shift in the company's approach to VR hardware development, potentially focusing resources elsewhere within its spatial computing strategy.