Windows 11 24h2: No more mixed reality

Without any notice to users, Microsoft has removed Mixed Reality from Windows 11 with the 24H2 update. Mixed Reality Portal is no longer on board, and SteamVR can no longer be used with specialized Microsoft hardware and software.

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The portal noticed this miscellaneous First. If you want or need to continue using Windows Mixed Reality, you’ll have to skip the 24H2 update or even stay on Windows 10.

Windows 11 24h2: No more mixed reality

Microsoft’s VR bid “mixed reality”

“Mixed reality” (MR) was Microsoft’s own interpretation of what are known as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). 3D glasses still keep the outside world visible, but add their own virtual elements on top. Microsoft deliberately did not present mixed reality more precisely, but wanted to cover all the “intermediate tones” between AR and VR, which are seen as fixed poles – this is mainly a marketing term. Unlike the competition, MR glasses cannot provide true “passthrough AR”, but rely on a simple video view of the surroundings recorded with cameras.

Competitors have also developed headsets for MR, including HP Reverb and Samsung’s Odyssey. The HP Reverb G2 was really quite popular. To use the glasses, Windows Mixed Reality software (WMR) must first be installed and turned on, even if you want to use them with SteamVR. This works similarly with the Oculus Rift, where the Rift software needs to be running in addition to SteamVR. The WMR system can no longer be used with the latest Windows 11 releases.

Shortly before last Christmas, Microsoft’s plan to remove mixed reality from Windows became known. At the beginning of the month, around the time the 24H2 update for Windows 11 was released, it also emerged that Microsoft would be phasing out HoloLens 2 and no longer developing a successor. It will be exciting to see what happens next – after all, Microsoft has a contract with the US Army for HoloLens. Oculus founder Palmer Luckey’s collaboration with VR defense company Anduril may be imminent. However, after the disagreement, Lucky apparently compromised with Meta and praised the Orion prototype. However, there are rumors floating around that the US Army may award contracts for combat goggles to companies other than Microsoft in the future.

(DMK)