Windows Mixed Reality is deprecated and will be removed in the next release of Windows

Image: Microsoft

Windows Mixed Reality is one of the features that Microsoft is adding to the list of those it is removing from Windows and will be removed from a future version of the operating system. Microsoft has decided to end development of Windows Mixed Reality and plans to remove the feature from a future version of the Windows operating system. Windows Mixed Reality was Microsoft's attempt to create a virtual reality ecosystem for Windows PCs, but unfortunately, this attempt has been a failed experiment over the past few years.

Windows Mixed Reality allowed users to use virtual reality on a VR-enabled PC. However, as the SteamVR platform is more successful and has a wider selection of games, Windows Mixed Reality is slowly falling out of favour. The end of Windows Mixed Reality development also means the loss of support for using Windows Mixed Reality VR headsets with the SteamVR platform, as well as the closure of the separate Mixed Reality Portal application, which was a launcher for Windows Mixed Reality VR games and applications.

Interestingly, HoloLens 2 is the only live Windows Mixed Reality device from Microsoft, but this product is also going through a difficult period. It is known that Mixed Reality at Microsoft is a dead project, but even Xbox is not interested in VR.

In recent years, it has been evident that Microsoft is gradually abandoning its VR platform. The company has been actively developing VR and Mixed Reality for only 5 years, but now it has decided to abandon this project. It is a pity, as some Windows Mixed Reality devices were quite good and allowed users to get an affordable VR experience. A recent example of Windows Mixed Reality was the HP Reverb G2 headset, which received a surprise update in 2021. However, since 2019, no OEM has released new Windows Mixed Reality headsets.

All in all, the abandonment of Windows Mixed Reality may be disappointing for users who have been actively using this technology. They will now have to choose other available VR headset options and platforms. This move by Microsoft may indicate that the company wants to focus more on other areas of development, such as Windows 11 and other new innovations. But only time will tell how this will affect users and the virtual reality market.

Source: Windows Central