When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.
Some of my first (and most memorable) experiences with Windows were gaming-related.
What was Windows Mixed Reality?
HP’s Reverb was the last WMR headset to launch, and it was also the best.
Windows Mixed Reality was first introduced at WinHEC 2016as part of the 2017 Windows 10 Creator’s Update.
A revolution where computers empower us to expand our capabilities and transcend time, space and devices.
This is the fundamental promise of mixed reality.
Those cameras on the front of the WMR headsets are what allowed for inside-out tracking.
The barrier that exists between our physical and digital worlds will disappear."
Microsoft saw its WMR platform as a jumping-off point for the future of computing.
Updates would push it to new limits, all while taking into account user needs and preferences.
Related:What exactly is Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality?
However, it did a few things quite well, and in some areas was ahead of the competition.
The second was an HTC Vive.
Those cameras on the front of the WMR headsets are what allowed for inside-out tracking.
I remember unboxing my first WMR headset; no base stations, no miles of cable.
Even the Oculus Rift CV1 topped out at 1080x1200.
It took HTC another year to launch the Vive Pro with the same screen.
HP’s Reverb G2 WMR headset and controllers in action.
In 2019 and 2020, HP released itsReverband Reverb G2 WMR headsets, pushing the resolution up to 2160x2160.
It didn’t take long for these headsets to drop in price.
Even PSVR was a $400 investment if you wanted the headsetandcontrollers.
Acer’s WMR headset was the most affordable option, but its build quality left something to be desired.
Besides, it was way ahead of its time.
From there, it was just a matter of plugging in your headset and following the on-screen prompts.
Any VR games you launched on Steam were sent automatically to the WMR headset.
WMR with Steam.
It’s worth pointing out here that WMR even saved some software from extinction.
Too bad AltspaceVR ended up in the trash heap anyway when it was abandoned in 2023.
However, “Windows Virtual Reality” didn’t really have the same ring to it.
The HoloLens is classified under “augmented reality,” which is on the other end of the spectrum from virtual reality.
That, of course, never panned out.
It certainly wasn’t the only hardware that had a cheap feel compared to competitors like HTC and Oculus.
Attempting to jumpstart an entirely new sector on the back of shoddy hardware is never a good idea.
WMR headsets with the flip-up visor were prone to breaking at the hinge.
There was an entire house to decorate and set up, acting as your launch pad for everything WMR.
It just kind of became an annoying add-on.
What could have been if Microsoft had invested in turning one of its legendary brands into a VR game?
Half-Life: Alyx undoubtedly sold A LOT of Valve Index VR systems.
Could anything have saved Windows Mixed Reality?
Windows Mixed Reality support is officially dead if you’ve made the switch to Windows 11.
That leaves a whole lot of e-waste sitting around.
XREAL’s glasses are part of the next step for head-mounted displays.
I don’t know if anything could have saved WMR.
So, here we are in 2025 with Windows Mixed Reality pushing daisies in Microsoft’s graveyard.
Where do we go from here?
That hardware, if it ever materializes, likely won’t arrive until late 2025 or 2026.
But, whether or not it sticks around remains to be seen.
