Microsoft is discontinuing the “Together” feature in Teams, a virtual collaboration tool introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The decision comes as most employees return to the office, prompting the company to shift users towards Gallery mode, which aims to enhance video quality and reduce implementation complexity.
Microsoft explained the removal of Together mode is due to its tendency to “increase cognitive load for users” and contribute to “implementation complexity across platforms.” The company also indicated that Together mode could lead to a choppy video experience on mobile devices and devices with less processing power, which are often referred to as “modest” devices.
In contrast, Gallery mode is expected to provide a smoother video experience on these devices through adaptive video tile counts that prevent machine overload. Microsoft stated that this transition aims to simplify the meeting interface and allows for resource allocation towards enhancements such as “super-resolution, denoising, and improved color accuracy.”
Teams has faced criticism from users for various performance issues, along with perceptions of being overly complex. The discontinuation of Together mode is intended to address these concerns, contingent upon Microsoft successfully redistributing resources towards necessary foundational video improvements.
