Windows 11 Update Renders Windows Mixed Reality VR Headsets Obsolete

If you're still using a Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) device, be aware that the latest Windows 11 update, version 24H2, will disable its functionality. As Microsoft shifts its focus away from VR hardware, this update officially ends support for WMR, leaving users with two options: avoid the 24H2 update or revert to Windows 10 to continue using their devices.

Microsoft first announced the deprecation of Windows Mixed Reality at the close of 2023, and by early 2024, the preview build of the 24H2 update confirmed that WMR headsets would no longer function with the new Windows 11 update. This includes the Mixed Reality Portal app, as well as support for WMR in SteamVR and the Steam VR Beta. Users who stick with version 23H2 of Windows 11 will still be able to use WMR headsets through Steam until November 2026, but upgrading to 24H2 will render the devices completely unusable.

Despite its initial ambition to compete with Oculus and HTC in the PC VR market, Windows Mixed Reality struggled to gain traction. Microsoft’s first WMR headsets were launched in 2017 by manufacturers like Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung. These devices introduced innovative inside-out tracking, now a standard feature in VR, but underwhelming performance and hardware limitations hindered widespread adoption. The last significant release, the HP Reverb G2, debuted in 2020, developed in collaboration with Valve.

Now, with Microsoft exiting the XR hardware space, its future plans revolve around software development. Notably, Microsoft is collaborating with Meta on projects such as Xbox Cloud Gaming and Office web apps for Meta Quest. Looking ahead, new features like Xbox-branded Quests, volumetric Windows apps, and digital monitor extensions are expected.