After the dust cleared of Microsoft making moves to lay off more than 10,000 employees—5% of its global workforce—it has become clear that Microsoft is not only taking a different tack on its VR and mixed reality designs, but cutting several of the core teams that will supposedly plant its virtual flag in the fledgling metaverse.

On Friday, AltspaceVR, a longtime social VR platform known for hosting virtual events, announced that it was platform sunset in march. Altspace was first launched in 2015, though Microsoft acquired the team in 2017 after the company ran into financial difficulties. Together with others…