Windows Mixed Reality to be removed in Windows 11 24H2
Windows Mixed Reality to be removed in Windows 11 24H2
UPDATE 2/9: Added an important known issue for Dev Drive users. Please see the known issues below. Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26052 to the Canary
Windows MR and HP Reverb VR headsets to lose all functionality in Windows 11 24H2, so don't update if you use those headsets.
I find it despicable that support for working hardware can be just abandoned after only a few years, and at least a basic driver should be released (ideally open source) if not the full WMR package, which few cared about anyway.
I'm hoping that Monado takes off at least as I only used Windows begrudgingly anyway.
I am more than a little surprised. Like I get Microsoft is not overly into VR or MR and even their AR headset has stagnated, but to drop support for products people bought in part because Microsoft backed it, then to just drop it is burning customer confidence and trust. Foolish move.
Windows phone/mobile vibe
Its a classic company move tbh. Make something, develop it further, hope it catches on and if it doesnt kill it off because maintaining it costs money.
Its a classic and understandable move. Microsoft has done it a few times tbh. Zune, windows phone, webtv, silverlight, ... :')
Windows creates so much e-waste.
Not nearly as much as Apple
You're being down voted because Apple supporting old hardware is the only thing that Apple is good about. Would have done well in almost any other thread.
Plugging in to use a Windows Mixed Reality headset will not work starting with his[sic] build. Windows Mixed Reality is no longer available to users as Windows Mixed Reality has been announced as deprecated. This includes the Mixed Reality Portal app, and Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR and Steam VR Beta. Existing Windows Mixed Reality devices will continue to work with Steam through November 2026, if users remain on their current released version of Windows 11 (version 23H2) and do not upgrade to this year’s annual feature update for Windows 11 (version 24H2). This deprecation does not impact HoloLens.
No separate driver download at all. It sounds like it will stop working in 2026, even if you don't update.
Existing Windows Mixed Reality devices will continue to work with Steam through November 2026, if users remain on their current released version of Windows 11 (version 23H2) and do not upgrade to this year’s annual feature update for Windows 11 (version 24H2).
Tldr: fuck you, if you want to use your hardware, bend over and spread your cheeks cuz your OS is gonna be raw digging the security vulns we'll be releasing over the next 2 years.
This is why I don't use any 'features' that these types of companies push. Core functionality only. Everything else is them screwing around until they get bored or can't make enough profit then they dump shit and expect you to be happy and follow their next little shit project.
"Monado" has no specific meaning and is just a name.
As a Xenoblade fan, I call BS.
But I do expect we'll see more open source VR solutions and support as adoption increases. They're still in that phase of expensive luxury goods in most cases - PSVR costs more than a PS5 and also requires one to work, Index is $1000, and I don't even know where the Apple headset got its pricing.
Most of these also want to lock down their VR as a platform, instead of being ubiquitous hardware like a monitor, and I think lack of standardization is gonna hurt them in the long run by narrowing their audience.
Most of these also want to lock down their VR as a platform, instead of being ubiquitous hardware like a monitor, and I think lack of standardization is gonna hurt them in the long run by narrowing their audience.
This. This is what I believe is holding back this tech more than anything else. Even pricing. Just make the hardware and let people play with it however they want, just like they could when PCs first became a thing.
I'm hoping the rumoured Deckard is actually a thing, as that will likely be the closest thing to an open source headset.
Microsoft is like Alphabet - why would you adopt anything they make? It's going to be abandoned with no support long before the devices are worn out, to include desktop and laptop PCs.
As a reverb G2 owner, my rage knows no bounds. Can't even sell the thing in good conscience.
Former G2 owner here, I felt really scummy selling mine for cheap a year after launch. That purchase was such a fiasco, the damn thing never worked quite right.
Thanks, can we also kill off copilot before it arrives uninvited?
I have one of these, but only use it for SteamVR. Does this mean I can't update either?
AFAIK, the drivers come from Windows.
Edit:
From the article:
Existing Windows Mixed Reality devices will continue to work with Steam through November 2026, if users remain on their current released version of Windows 11 (version 23H2) and do not upgrade to this year’s annual feature update for Windows 11 (version 24H2). This deprecation does not impact HoloLens.
Well fuck. This headset is the only reason I keep a Windows PC around at all.
Well there's always LTSC.
So, this is kind of funny, because when you think "cyberpunk" "high tech, low life", there always was/is the question of how this tech abundance but also poverty can coexist. Surely it takes a lot of money to build all this?
It's waste. That's the answer. It's the repurposed, discarded corporate trash that didn't meet the quarterly goal. It's all starting to make sense you guys!! In new and terrifying ways!
It honestly feels good to be on windows 10 LTSC IOT. None of this nonsense bloat installed and you get exactly the security updates you need sparsed out.
I dread the moment I actually have to migrate to Windows 11 but at least this version of Windows 10 I can use like, another 9 years lol.
Agreed, although I believe features like WMR don't work with LTSC without additional effort, so something to be aware of for those with VR headsets looking to migrate.
Another one bites the dust
Don't make me tap the sign.