In the dynamic realm of virtual reality, the industry finds itself in a state of anticipation, with all eyes on the aftermath of the Meta Quest 3’s modest entrance and the imminent debut of Apple’s ambitious Vision Pro headset. However, amidst this suspense, Microsoft is making a strategic move, deciding to step back from its ventures into virtual and augmented reality. The Windows Mixed Reality platform, which once held promise, is now officially deprecated, ceasing active development as of December 2023.
Windows Mixed Reality made its debut alongside the visionary Microsoft HoloLens headset in 2015, showcasing its potential in a technical demo. Subsequent years saw the augmented reality hardware’s release to developers and its full integration into Windows 10’s Fall Creators Update in 2017. Despite initial enthusiasm and significant investments from Microsoft, the HoloLens never made it to the consumer market and garnered limited interest from industrial customers, save for a notable contract with the US military. Despite impressive demos, the practical applications of the hardware and similar headsets based on its design fell short of expectations.
While the grand vision of the VR “metaverse” seems to have eluded Microsoft and Meta, Windows Mixed Reality’s fusion of virtual and augmented reality may have been ahead of its time. Meta Quest 3 emphasizes augmented reality with full-color pass-through cameras for real-world integration during play sessions. Likewise, Apple’s Vision Pro is committed to users wearing the headset consistently, even simulating their eyes on an external screen.
As per Microsoft’s support page, as reported by Windows Central, the Mixed Reality Portal and Windows Mixed Reality for Steam VR will be phased out in future Windows releases. While users can still access Windows Mixed Reality, it remains to be seen how this pivot aligns with the evolving landscape of immersive technologies.