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Microsoft is inching a step closer to putting the final nail in the coffin of its Windows Mixed Reality. It allowed users to experience both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) using compatible head-mounted displays (HMDs). Microsoft introduced it as part of the Windows 10 operating system in 2017 and also supported it on Windows 11. But now, it’s wrapping up.
Microsoft bids goodbye to Windows Mixed Reality
Microsoft has announced the deprecation of Windows Mixed Reality, its virtual reality platform launched in 2017 to compete with the likes of HTC Vive and Oculus (now owned by Meta). This means that Windows Mixed Reality will be phased out in a future Windows release. It noted that Windows Mixed Reality will be removed in a future Windows release. This includes the Mixed Reality Portal app and support for SteamVR and Steam VR Beta. This doesn’t come as shocking, given the previous reports suggesting Microsoft’s disinterest in AR.
While Windows Mixed Reality never quite reached the heights of its rivals in terms of market share, it offered a more accessible VR option thanks to its compatibility with headsets from key makers like Acer, Dell, Lenovo, ASUS, HP, and Samsung. This wider hardware ecosystem stood in contrast to the more closed-off nature of other VR platforms.
Its legacy will continue
The news of Windows Mixed Reality’s deprecation doesn’t spell doom and gloom for VR enthusiasts entirely. Microsoft has assured that the HoloLens 2, its high-end mixed reality headset geared towards businesses and professionals, remains very much in the picture. The company even rolled out a free Windows 11 upgrade and other improvements for quite a pricey $3,500 headset.
While Windows Mixed Reality’s journey may be coming to an end, its legacy lives on. Its efforts to make VR work with many devices and be easy to use made a big impact. Many will remember its influence on the world of virtual and mixed reality.
Meanwhile, another tech major reports plans to unveil its headset, Vision Pro, as soon as February 2024. Many anticipate it will be one of Apple‘s major releases and likely come with a super-premium cost.