Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 update, version 24H2, brings new capabilities but also sees several long-standing features and apps removed. One notable departure is Windows Mixed Reality (WMR), a virtual and augmented reality platform launched in 2017 to work with compatible devices like the HoloLens — which was also recently sunsetted by Microsoft.
The 24H2 update formally deprecates Windows Mixed Reality, effectively ending support for devices that relied on it, including those that connected with VR applications via SteamVR. Microsoft has previously announced this deprecation, but the update now finalizes WMR’s phase-out on Windows 11. For users determined to keep their WMR headsets operational, options are limited: devices may still function on Windows 10 or on pre-24H2 Windows 11 until November 2026, but full support is unavailable on the latest update.
Microsoft’s journey with XR began in 2015 when it introduced the “Windows Holographic” platform, followed by affordable XR headset partnerships. Windows Mixed Reality was a milestone that introduced VR application compatibility through Steam, with hardware collaborations such as the HP Reverb G2, launched in 2020. Yet, despite these innovations, Microsoft’s mixed reality products never gained the traction seen by competitors like Meta’s Oculus and Sony’s VR, which have also struggled with the high cost of entry and a lack of compelling VR experiences to attract a broader audience.
As the XR industry reorients itself in light of low consumer interest and high costs, Microsoft’s departure from mixed reality is part of a wider trend. The company has refocused on other technologies, such as its new Copilot+ AI-driven PCs, but even those are in a challenging position, with uncertain uptake amid mixed initial reactions.