Windows Mixed Reality is a platform for VR content created by Microsoft and, at the same time, an ecosystem for manufacturers of corresponding hardware. Unlike Meta or, in the near future, Apple, Microsoft has not developed its own VR headset for end customers, but instead left this to hardware manufacturers such as Acer. Windows Mixed Reality also includes a special VR user environment, which allows for pleasant navigation in virtual reality and includes, for example, a virtual villa that can be set up by the user.
Compatible headsets can be used with Steam VR without issue. In some cases, users can even select optimized settings for control in Steam VR; Windows Mixed Reality also provides the necessary drivers for this. Now, Microsoft has announced that it will no longer support Windows Mixed Reality. According to a statement from the company, downloads will no longer be possible for end users from November 1, 2026 and one year later for corporate customers.
Furthermore, Microsoft has commented to Upload VR on the situation regarding Steam VR: Windows Mixed Reality devices will still be able to work with Steam after this deadline as long as they are not updated to a Windows version without WMR support. In the medium term, headsets can continued to be used, but may become useless in the long term. But it is entirely possible that resourceful users will somehow ensure compatibility after the official end of support.
The discontinuation of Windows Mixed Reality is something of a statement, as it suggests that Microsoft no longer believes that the platform can be successful. However, it remains unclear whether this applies to VR and AR technology in general or to WMR in particular, also in view of the Apple Vision Pro.
A possible alternative: Buy the Meta Quest 2 at Amazon
I have been active as a journalist for over 10 years, most of it in the field of technology. I worked for Tom’s Hardware and ComputerBase, among others, and have been working for Notebookcheck since 2017. My current focus is particularly on mini PCs and single-board computers such as the Raspberry Pi – so in other words, compact systems with a lot of potential. In addition, I have a soft spot for all kinds of wearables, especially smartwatches. My main profession is as a laboratory engineer, which is why neither scientific contexts nor the interpretation of complex measurements are foreign to me.
Growing up in regional Australia, I first became acquainted with computers in my early teens after a broken leg from a football (soccer) match temporarily condemned me to a predominately indoor lifestyle. Soon afterwards I was building my own systems. Now I live in Germany, having moved here in 2014, where I study philosophy and anthropology. I am particularly fascinated by how computer technology has fundamentally and dramatically reshaped human culture, and how it continues to do so.
Maria Malik is your guide to the immersive world of Virtual Reality (VR). With a passion for VR technology, she explores the latest VR headsets, applications, and experiences, providing readers with in-depth reviews, industry insights, and a glimpse into the future of virtual experiences.