Microsoft to abandon Windows Mixed Reality in a future update

In a surprise announcement, Microsoft revealed that it will no longer support Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) devices in its upcoming Windows 11 update. This means that users of WMR headsets, such as Samsung Odyssey+, HP Reverb G2 and Acer OJO 500, will not be able to access the Windows Mixed Reality Portal or use their devices with supported apps and games in Windows 11.

Microsoft’s decision to drop WMR support comes as a surprise to many fans of the platform, which launched in 2017 as an easy-to-use, low-cost alternative to other virtual reality systems. WMR devices use inside-out tracking, which eliminates the need for external sensors or base stations, and offer a plug-and-play experience with Windows 10 PCs. WMR is also compatible with SteamVR, which gives users access to a large library of virtual reality titles.

However, despite its advantages, WMR has struggled to gain traction in the virtual reality market, which is dominated by Facebook’s Oculus and Valve’s Index. According to Steam’s latest hardware survey, WMR devices account for only 8.5% of virtual reality headsets used on Steam, compared to 60.8% for Oculus and 16.7% for Index. Microsoft has also faced criticism for its lack of innovation and investment in WMR, as it has not released any new hardware or software updates for the platform since 2019.

Microsoft has not given a clear reason for its decision to abandon WMR, but has hinted that it is shifting its focus to other areas of mixed reality, such as its HoloLens augmented reality headset and its Mesh cloud-based platform. In a blog post, Microsoft said it will continue to «invest in new and exciting ways to enable all people to work, play and communicate in mixed reality.»

The news of WMR’s demise has left many users disappointed and frustrated, as they will either have to switch to a different virtual reality platform or stick with Windows 10 if they want to continue using their WMR devices. Some users have also expressed concern about the future of virtual reality on Windows, as Microsoft’s move could deter other virtual reality developers from supporting the platform.

Microsoft has said it will provide more details on how it will handle the transition from WMR to Windows 11 in the coming months. The company has also assured users that it will honor its warranty and support obligations for existing WMR devices through their end of life.

Microsoft has announced that it will remove Windows Mixed Reality from its operating system in the near future.

This means that Microsoft will no longer support or update the Mixed Reality Portal app and Windows Mixed Reality integration for Steam VR. The exact timeline for this change has not yet been revealed, but Microsoft said it will happen «in a future version of Windows.»

Windows Mixed Reality was Microsoft’s attempt to create a virtual reality platform for Windows PCs, starting in 2015. However, it failed to gain much traction and popularity among users and developers, and has been largely dormant for the past few years, according to Windows Central.

Several virtual reality headsets were released under the Windows Mixed Reality banner between 2017 and 2021, from manufacturers such as Acer and HP. However, they received mediocre reviews from PCMag, who criticized their «awkward quirks» and lack of engaging content on the platform. The headsets also faced stiff competition from Steam VR, which offered a more diverse and richer library of games, among other advantages.