In a bittersweet announcement, Microsoft has officially signaled the end of the road for its Windows Mixed Reality platform. The software, along with the Mixed Reality Portal and SteamVR app, will soon be removed from Windows as Microsoft shifts its virtual reality focus.
Launched with optimism in 2017, Windows Mixed Reality was Microsoft’s play to compete with the likes of Oculus and HTC in delivering shared immersive experiences. But despite initial fanfare, adoption never quite took off as hoped.
This isn’t the end of MR at Microsoft though. Even as Mixed Reality gets put out to pasture, work continues on the more business-centric HoloLens 2 headset with upgrades for Windows 11 and beyond. However, rumors suggest development has ceased on a consumer follow-up.
Between layoffs in the VR division and shuttering of social apps like AltspaceVR, Microsoft seems to be streamlining to focus MR efforts on enterprise solutions. The new Mesh platform for collaborative meetings is one example, enabling immersive gatherings even for those without a headset.
So while it’s disappointing to bid farewell to the Mixed Reality experiment, Microsoft still has skin in the virtual game. As technologies evolve in the coming years, I’m excited to see how they tailor experiences to blend physical and digital worlds for both businesses and average consumers. Windows Mixed Reality may not have achieved mainstream success, but it likely moved the needle toward the immersive platforms of tomorrow.
