Microsoft's mice, keyboards and webcams are being discontinued in favor of Surface accessories

Microsoft will no longer manufacture Microsoft-branded mice, keyboards and webcams. Instead, Microsoft is now focusing on its Surface-branded PC accessories, which include mice, keyboards, pens, and more. It ends a legacy of Microsoft-branded PC hardware after the company first launched its first mouse in 1983 and bundled it with Microsoft Word and Notepad.

"Going forward, we are focusing on our Windows PC accessories portfolio under the Surface brand," says Dan Laycock, senior communications manager at Microsoft, in a statement to The Verge. “We will continue to offer a range of Surface branded PC accessories – including mice, keyboards, pens, docks, adaptive accessories and more. Existing Microsoft-branded PC accessories such as mice, keyboards and webcams will continue to be sold in existing markets at their current sale prices, while supplies last.

Nikkei reported earlier today that Microsoft will no longer make standalone keyboards under the Surface brand, but this is not the case. Microsoft's statement makes it clear that the company is really focusing on the Surface rather than Microsoft-branded accessories.

While Microsoft will still manufacture Surface-branded keyboards and mice, these are typically sold at premium price points, and it's unclear whether any lower-cost Microsoft-branded accessories will now make their way onto the Surface line. .

Microsoft doesn't offer a Surface webcam right now, only the $799.99 Smart Surface Camera is designed for conference rooms. Surface chief Panos Panay has hinted at Surface-branded webcams in the past, but Microsoft is set to release the Microsoft Modern webcam in 2021 for $69.99.

It also means that the ergonomic keyboards Microsoft is known for are going away. Microsoft does offer the Surface-branded Ergonomic Keyboard, but at a retail price of $129, it's more than double the regular Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard at $59.99. Microsoft isn't commenting on its plans here.

News of Microsoft's PC accessories shift comes months after the company said it was revamping its "hardware portfolio" amid 10,000 job cuts. The PC market is suffering right now, and revenue from Microsoft's devices, including Surface, PC accessories and HoloLens, reported a 30 percent year-over-year decline in its most recent fiscal Q3 results.