Microsoft announces abandonment of Windows VR platform Windows Mixed Reality

Microsoft写道：“Windows Mixed Reality已弃用，并将在未来版本的Windows中删除。相关弃用将包括混合现实门户app，以及Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR和Steam VR Beta。”

It should be noted that despite the use of "Mixed Reality", Windows Mixed Reality is primarily a VR platform, an attempt by Microsoft to build a virtual reality ecosystem for Windows PCs. In addition, Microsoft still has documents that use Windows Mixed Reality, but they are mainly used to describe mixed reality and holographic technology, which is somewhat different from the above announcement.

Windows Mixed Reality was originally released inWindows 10The operating system was introduced in 2015 when it was released and has been used primarily to design Windows-compatible VR headsets, with manufacturers including HP, Samsung and Acer releasing Windows Mixed Reality-based VR headsets.

But unfortunately, Microsoft's Windows Mixed Reality platform hasn't had much success over the years. According to Steam's public data, the share of Windows Mixed Reality headset basically hovered around 5%, not favored by consumers. So it's not surprising that this platform was abandoned by Microsoft.

It's not just Windows Mixed Reality, Microsoft has disbanded theAltspaceVRteam and made the MRTK program independent. However, this does not accidentally mean that Microsoft has abandoned XR technology; rather, Microsoft is simply reorganizing its structure and focusing on development toHoloLensrepresented by holographic computing technology, while the current focus is on applications in the direction of industrial meta-universes.

In fact, in the face ofmarketRumors such as "Microsoft is no longer concerned about XR" and "meta-universe has become Microsoft's abandonment" appeared, Microsoft later wrote several times to reiterate that it will continue to work on HoloLens.

Also, according to CEO Satya Nadella and EVP of Experiences and Devices Rajesh Jha, Microsoft's approach to HoloLens has remained unchanged and HoloLens is one of four future computers that Microsoft is actively building.