Microsoft announced last year that it planned to remove support for the entire WMR platform on Windows. Now, with the release of Windows 11 2024 Update yesterday, these VR headsets have essentially been bricked.
First launched in 2017, Microsoft has been well-positioned to host Windows' fleet of PC VR headsets, including ones from Acer, Asus, Dell, Lenovo, HP, and some of the first headsets specifically to feature inside-out tracking. . and Samsung.
Offered by the 'Windows Mixed Reality' software platform, which includes built-in support for the Windows operating system, WMR headset users also had access to all of SteamVR's content. So far, that is.
“Windows Mixed Reality is deprecated and will be removed in Windows 11 version 24H2,” Microsoft said in December 2023. “This deprecation includes the Mixed Reality Portal app, Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR, and Steam VR Beta.”
provided to you don't do that If you update to version 24H2 of Windows 11 and stay on version 23H2, you will be able to continue playing SteamVR content until November 2026. Going forward, WMR headsets will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, bug fixes, and technical support. or online technical content updates, Microsoft said.
While most first-generation WMR headset users have likely moved on, the latest addition to the platform, the HP Reverb G2, was released in 2020 as a rival to the Oculus Rift S and Valve Index. Improved tracking capabilities over other WMR headsets.
This comes after Microsoft announced the discontinuation of its other major XR hardware platform, HoloLens 2, which offered security patches through December 31, 2027.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has moved closer to the Meta with the announcement that the Quest will soon have automatic pairing with Windows 11, moving even closer to feature similarity with the Vision Pro's compatibility with the Mac.