Windows Mixed Reality has been discontinued.

Just before Christmas, Microsoft announced just that. Windows Mixed Reality Go and add it to his list. Outdated applicationsThis means that support will soon be withdrawn and will no longer be available in next versions of the operating system, such as Windows 12, which was announced this year.

The news can also be read on the official Microsoft website. The original text in English states the following: «Windows Mixed Reality is deprecated and will be removed in a future release of Windows. This deprecation includes the Mixed Reality Portal and Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR and Steam VR Beta apps.»That is . The disabling also extends to the Mixed Reality Portal and Windows Mixed Reality apps for SteamVR and Steam VR Beta.

Microsoft’s failed bet on mixed reality

The first time we heard about this app was in spring 2018, When Mixed Reality was introduced with the Windows 10 update, the invention was surrounded with a lot of optimism and promised new and exciting features for users. It’s Microsoft’s big virtual bet.

With this application it is possible. Use mixed reality in Windows 10Achieve complete digital choice and interface above all else. For use it is also required. Modified viewer.

Virtual reality and mixed reality

At this point it is necessary to explain what it is. mixed reality.As its name suggests It is a combination of virtual reality and augmented reality. The first is the gateway to the digital world. The second part is aimed at printing digital objects in real environments.

Microsoft’s idea was to offer a unified experience. In this way, Windows Mixed Reality was presented to the public as a A type of virtual desktop where we can open all our applications Its appearance is that of a large house where holograms can be viewed with various apps. on walls and rooms A space with endless possibilities to enjoy. Social and entertainment applicationsalong with fully immersive experiences in certain games That’s where the Mixed Reality app for Steam comes in, where you can access virtual Steam games.

Why doesn’t it work?

Faced with such a promising horizon Many manufacturers thus launched themselves into the trade of virtual reality setHowever, things still haven’t gone according to plan. Microsoft’s cooperation agreements with brands such as Acer, HP or Lenovo have not yielded the expected results in terms of sales figures.

The truth is that The heralded mixed reality boom has not materialized. There is no simple explanation. For this But it is a combination of different situations. The high price of viewers and other equipment Including demanding installation requirements Content that lacks quality Poor compatibility between platforms and limited battery life As a result, the general public will stay away from these types of proposals.

So can we talk openly about our failures? In a way, yes. Otherwise, this announcement would not have happened.

And now?

Users who have opted for mixed reality in recent years have invested in viewers and other devices. Find yourself in the following situations: There will no longer be any updates or improvements to the drivers for SteamVR. At this time there are no significant impacts. Although in the long run it causes compatibility issues and other errors.

Until November 1, 2026, users will still be able to access the Windows Mixed Reality Store and download SteamVR apps. After that, this access will be limited to commercial users only and will only be allowed for an additional year. Of course, with the release of Windows 12, users who updated their operating system will no longer be able to use these applications.

The horizon is still quite bleak for all mixed reality sets. Designed specifically to work with Windows Mixed Reality, without Microsoft software they automatically become useless.

This adventure doesn’t have a happy ending, though. But everyone knows that mixed reality technology is still in the early stages of development. There is still a lot to be done in this matter. So the relative failure of Windows Mixed Reality shouldn’t be the end of it.

It’s only a matter of time before new offerings appear to correct errors and continue to improve quality and accessibility. It is true that everything indicates that now The paths of mixed reality and Microsoft have now parted ways. But it is very possible that the two will happen together again in the not-too-distant future.