Failing to have broken through in the field of mixed reality, Microsoft is teaming up with the Meta group to offer its Windows operating system for this type of experience. In September, Meta teased an upcoming feature that will connect PCs running Windows 11 to its mixed reality headsets. And this week, during its Microsoft Ignite conference, the Redmond firm announced its imminent arrival.
The connection between Windows 11 and Meta Quest will be available in preview in December
“Windows Mixed Reality brings all the capabilities of Windows 11 to mixed reality headsets, starting with Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S. Accessing your local Windows PC or Windows 365 cloud PC from a Quest headset is seamless, and it only takes seconds to connect to a private, high-quality, multi-monitor workstation. This solution will be available in public preview in December”Microsoft said. As a reminder, previews allow Microsoft to test new features with a limited number of users, before a wider deployment.
If anything, this partnership could redefine the way we use PCs. Indeed, the advantage of the connection between Windows 11 and Meta headsets is that it allows you to work on several virtual screens, via mixed reality devices which are relatively portable. Moreover, this type of experience is already offered by certain brands, which offer to work on Windows using virtual screens on headsets or mixed reality glasses.
Better compete with the Apple ecosystem
Otherwise, by collaborating around mixed reality, Microsoft and Meta are also better able to compete with Apple. As a reminder, the Apple brand already offers a mixed reality headset, the Vision Pro. And it can connect to Macs to serve as a virtual screen. However, while a Meta Quest 3S headset, which will be compatible with Windows, costs 329 euros, the Vision Pro costs 3,999 euros.
- In September, Meta teased a feature that will connect its mixed reality headsets to Windows PCs
- Recently, Microsoft announced that this feature will be available preview for Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S headsets in December
- It will be possible to transform mixed reality headsets into a workstation with multiple screens for Windows
