windows mixed reality

Microsoft's habit of experimenting boldly — then pruning ruthlessly — has left a surprising number of small, elegant tools and ambitious platforms on the cutting-room floor, and some of those retirements matter far more than you might expect. What looks like housekeeping for a modern, AI-first...

Microsoft and Meta have quietly turned the Quest 3 into a bona fide Windows workstation — one you can don and carry anywhere — by rolling out Windows 11’s Mixed Reality Link to the Quest 3 and Quest 3S, bringing an Apple Vision Pro–style virtual desktop experience to a far more affordable...

Microsoft’s OS has been quietly slimming down: a clutch of once-promising Windows features have been deprecated or removed over the past few years, and a number of little-known tools that almost nobody used are now gone for good—some by stealth, others with a public notice. The tidy list that...

A single, determined engineer has quietly reversed the fate of a generation of Windows Mixed Reality headsets by releasing a native SteamVR driver that restores full headset and motion-controller functionality on Windows 11 builds that Microsoft left unsupported — but the fix comes with...

Valve’s SteamVR beta has quietly added a major usability safety net: SteamVR Beta 2.13.1 will automatically prefer and install the community-built Oasis driver when it detects a Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) headset running on Windows 11 versions that no longer support Microsoft’s WMR runtime...

August 29, 2025 delivered an unexpected lifeline to owners of aging Windows Mixed Reality headsets: a new native SteamVR driver called Oasis that restores direct SteamVR/OpenXR compatibility for devices left orphaned after Microsoft deprecated the Mixed Reality Portal. Background Windows Mixed...

Samsung appears to be preparing a significant push into the mixed reality (MR) space that goes beyond supplying components — industry reports now suggest the company may partner with Microsoft on a hardware-level effort while simultaneously pursuing its own XR and AR devices with partners such...

Microsoft rolled out the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update to the public on October 17, 2017, and launched a coordinated push into consumer mixed reality with a family of Windows Mixed Reality headsets from major OEMs — a move that paired a significant platform update with hardware designed to...

Microsoft’s Windows 11 24H2 test build quietly removes two long-running pieces of Windows heritage — WordPad and Windows Mixed Reality — while shipping a set of newer, developer‑ and servicing‑focused features that point to where Microsoft wants Windows to go next. The change is consequential...

Microsoft’s push around the Windows 10 Creators Update was never just about fresh UI flourishes — it was a strategic bet that 3D creativity, deeper Xbox integration, and platform-level mixed-reality hooks could re-accelerate Windows 10 upgrades and lock more users into Microsoft’s device and...

Microsoft’s plan to ship the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update alongside Windows Mixed Reality hardware crystallized in Berlin this fall, but a closer look at the timeline, features, and promises shows a mix of ambitious engineering, marketing finesse, and a few important caveats for enthusiasts...

Microsoft's decision to deprecate its Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) platform in 2024 left many VR enthusiasts with hardware that seemed destined for obsolescence. However, a new development promises to breathe life back into these devices. An unofficial SteamVR driver, aptly named 'Oasis,' is set...

For years, Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) headsets have occupied a unique space in the evolving landscape of virtual reality hardware. Born of Microsoft’s ambitious, sometimes turbulent dreams to democratize spatial computing, WMR devices once presented a tempting middle ground between high-end PC...

For the tens of thousands of VR enthusiasts who invested in Windows Mixed Reality headsets, the past year has felt like betrayal. With the arrival of the Windows 11 24H2 update, Microsoft quietly pulled the plug on its entire Mixed Reality (MR) platform—rendering a slew of devices from industry...

With Microsoft’s sweeping changes in Windows 11 24H2, thousands of existing Windows Mixed Reality (MR) headsets—from manufacturers like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung—have found themselves at a dramatic crossroads. Official support for these devices has been unceremoniously stripped...

Windows 11 25H2, like an elusive Windows ninja sneaking through the halls of Redmond, is showing the kind of subtle signs that only the truly geeky—or perhaps deeply bored—would notice. But make no mistake, these signals aren’t wild speculation or the fevered dreams of Microsoft fanatics...

In a move that has left many virtual reality enthusiasts shaking their heads, Microsoft has officially pulled the plug on Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) in the latest update for Windows 11, dubbed the 24H2 update. While the 2024 update brings a host of intriguing new features, it also signifies the...

In a move that could send ripples through the virtual reality community, Microsoft has officially announced that support for its Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) headsets will no longer be available with the latest Windows 11 2024 Update. This decision echoes previous statements made by Microsoft...

Hello Windows Insiders! We are now getting the Windows 10 May 2020 Update (20H1) ready for release and releasing Build 19041.207 to Windows Insiders in the Release Preview ring. We believe that Build 19041.207 is the final build and we will continue to improve the overall experience of the May...

Hello Windows Insiders, today we’re releasing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18999 (20H1) to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. IMPORTANT: As is normal with pre-release builds, these builds may contain bugs that might be painful for some. If you take this flight, you won’t be able to switch...