Microsoft will cancel another Windows offering. Here we explain where users should change.
Microsoft has announced the end of Windows Mixed Reality. If you own an Acer AH101, Acer OJO 500, Asus HC102, Dell Visor, HP VR1000, HP Reverb, HP Reverb G2, Lenovo Explorer, Samsung Odyssey or Samsung Odyssey+ VR headset, you may be experiencing some drastic changes .
According to a Microsoft source, support for Windows Mixed Reality headsets is expected to end in a “future Windows release,” expected to be released in late 2024. This means that major updates after 2024, including Windows 11 updates, may not be compatible with Your VR headset.
Microsoft's public announcement explains that the discontinuation also includes the coveted Mixed Reality Portal app, currently available in the Microsoft Store, as well as the SteamVR launcher on Steam. But what exactly does this mean for your VR experience?
Mixed reality will not be supported in upcoming Windows releases
Image: Microsoft
According to official information from Microsoft, requested by UploadVR, the statement read: “Beginning November 1, 2026 for consumers and November 1, 2027 for commercial customers, Windows Mixed Reality will no longer be available through the Mixed Reality Portal. for SteamVR and Steam VR Beta is available for download and we will end support.”
Existing Windows Mixed Reality devices will continue to work with Steam until users upgrade to a version of Windows that no longer includes Windows Mixed Reality. However, starting November 1, 2026, users will no longer be able to download the core Mixed Reality Portal app, which is crucial for Windows MR headsets, as well as the SteamVR driver.
Windows Mixed Reality is coming to an end: Microsoft does not comment on possible remote mechanisms
While the current settings are expected to work smoothly if the software remains installed, Microsoft was asked if there is some sort of remote or timed locking mechanism like Magic Leap 1. The answer is still up in the air here.
In summary, after November 1, 2026, key components of the Windows Mixed Reality VR headset may no longer be available for download and users with the Windows 11 2024 Update or later may be affected.
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