Microsoft gives up on its Mixed Reality VR for Windows
At the moment, the virtual reality industry seems to be in a
holding pattern. Following the rather disappointing release of Meta Quest 3,
everyone is waiting to see how Apple's highly anticipated and ambitious Vision
Pro headset performs. Microsoft, meanwhile, isn't waiting to give up on its VR
and AR projects. In early December 2023, the Windows Mixed Reality platform
will be officially shut down, meaning it will no longer be developed.
At a tech showcase in 2015, Windows Mixed Reality debuted
alongside the ambitious Microsoft HoloLens headgear. Augmented reality hardware
was made available to developers the following year, and full software
integration was introduced in the Fall Creators Update of Windows 10 in 2017.
Aside from a significant contract with the US military, HoloLens attracted
little interest from industrial customers and was never released for civilian
use despite Microsoft's considerable investment and high expectations. While
there have been some notable demonstrations of technology and related headsets
using its concept, there hasn't been much real-world use.
Although Microsoft and Meta VR seem to have overestimated
the "Metaverse," Windows Mixed Reality's integration of AR and VR
technology may be ahead of its time. The primary new feature of Meta Quest 3 is
Augmented Reality. Its full-color pass-through cameras are intended to
integrate gaming sessions with the outside world. Similarly, Apple Vision Pro
is designed to simulate the user's eyes on an external screen because it is
dedicated to the idea that users will always wear the headset.
According to Microsoft's support website (available through
Windows Central), future versions of Windows will no longer include Mixed
Reality Portal or Windows Mixed Reality for Steam VR. For now, at least, those
who still want to use Windows Mixed Reality can still do so.