Microsoft confirms that it has axed Windows 10X, dual-screen Surface Neo may also be cancelled as a result

Microsoft is starting to create something of a track record of abandoning operating systems, even when it has invested tens of millions of dollars in them. Some relatively recent examples include its entire mobile efforts with the axing of Windows Phone in 2017 and Windows RT in 2015 which featured on the original Arm-based Surface devices. We can now add Windows 10X to list with the company officially confirming it has abandoned yet another operating system.

In a blog post, John Cable, Vice President, Program Management, Windows Servicing and Delivery had this to say:

Instead of bringing a product called Windows 10X to market in 2021 like we originally intended, we are leveraging learnings from our journey thus far and accelerating the integration of key foundational 10X technology into other parts of Windows and products at the company. In fact, some of this is already reflected in the core of Windows in Windows Insider preview builds, for example the new app container technology we’re integrating into products like Microsoft Defender Application Guard, an enhanced Voice Typing experience, and a modernized touch keyboard with optimized key sizing, sounds, colors and animations. 

Our teams continue to invest in areas where the 10X technology will help meet our customer needs as well as evaluate technology experiences both in software and hardware that will be useful to our customers in the future.

In addition to being a more modern and lightweight operating system, Windows 10X was also being specially developed to run on dual screen devices like the Surface Neo. First unveiled in late 2019, the Surface Neo remains an exciting dual-screen computing proposition but it may now not see the light of day. While there is still hope Microsoft could release it running regular Windows 10, it will require Microsoft to develop a properly optimized dual-screen UI layer for that to happen.

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