Microsoft plans new mixed-reality VR headset to rival Apple Vision Pro — may run Windows apps via the cloud

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After mass layoffs and product cancelations, Microsoft seems interested in Mixed Reality again.

Man wearing HoloLens 2
(Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • A new report suggests Microsoft has placed an order for "hundreds of thousands" of micro-OLED displays for a new VR headset.
  • The headset will reportedly focus on content consumption such as gaming and movies, not the metaverse.
  • Microsoft is also working on bringing full desktop Windows apps to mixed reality via the cloud.

A new report from The Elec (via RoadToVR) has revealed that Microsoft has signed a new deal with Samsung that will see the Korean display manufacturer supply “hundreds of thousands” of new micro-OLED displays for a next-generation mixed reality headset that Microsoft is currently developing.

According to the report, an unnamed industry official says Microsoft’s new mixed reality headset will focus on experiences like “enjoying or watching content such as games and movies, rather than the metaverse.” This implies the device may have a consumer focus, unlike Microsoft's current HoloLens line of headsets.

The news comes after a turbulent few years for Microsoft’s mixed-reality division. In 2022 it was reported that Microsoft had scrapped plans to ship a third-generation HoloLens, and in December 2023 the company announced that the Windows Mixed Reality platform was being shut down.

Windows Mixed Reality is no more... So what would a future Microsoft headset even run? (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)

With that in mind, what might a next-generation mixed-reality headset from Microsoft look like? Recent patent filings suggest the company is exploring a design similar to the Apple Vision Pro, featuring OLED displays and passthrough cameras to simulate augmented reality experiences.

My own sources say it’s likely that Android, not Windows, will power a future Microsoft-made mixed-reality headset. The current HoloLens 2 runs Windows Core OS, a platform that only runs UWP apps. Microsoft now considers the UWP app platform deprecated, and so Microsoft needs to find a new home for any future mixed reality ambitions.

Meta recently opened its platform up to third-party headsets, and Google is rumored to be launching a new Android XR platform this year, both of which could be a good fit for Microsoft given it no longer has its own mixed reality platform to build upon. That said, I’m told Microsoft does intend to incorporate Windows apps in some capacity.

Content consumption is rumored to be a focus with Microsoft's next headset.  (Image credit: Meta)

According to sources familiar with the project, Microsoft is working on a solution that will allow mixed-reality headsets to run full Windows desktop apps via the cloud. Codenamed “Williams Bay,” this solution will allow users to place desktop Windows apps around their mixed reality space and interact with them as if they were running locally, similar to iPad apps on an Apple Vision Pro.

Williams Bay will also enable developers to “enhance” desktop Windows apps with 3D extensions that can be displayed alongside them within a mixed reality 3D environment on the headset. It’s unclear if Williams Bay is an experience that will be exclusive to Microsoft’s own mixed reality headset, or if it’ll be available on other headsets and platforms also.

It’s unclear when Microsoft’s mixed reality headset will be ready to launch, assuming it’s not canceled before then. The Elec says it won’t be ready until next year at the earliest, but 2026 seems more likely.

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Zac Bowden
Zac Bowden
Senior Editor

Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Central. Bringing you exclusive coverage into the world of Windows on PCs, tablets, phones, and more. Also an avid collector of rare Microsoft prototype devices! Keep in touch on Twitter and Threads

5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • ShinyProton
    Not a chance in the consumer market.

    Once again, Microsoft was there first and failed to properly time and adapt their product for consumers.
    I have been an early adopter of the Windows MR platform and used it for years. But, as usual, Microsoft failed to properly support it almost immediate after launch. And, as usual, the ecosystem around it crumbled pretty quickly, leaving consumers with no apps.

    I have since switch to Meta and it's fantastic and affordable Quest 3 that does everything Microsoft promised, even better. I have also deleted anything Windows MR in my setup as this unsupported and useless piece of sh1t was eating up disk space.

    I have absolutely no confidence that Microsoft will create anything worthy in this domain, having destroyed its own platform and the brilliant team that was behind the innovation. Also, their inability to release properly priced devices to lure consumers in their project will continue to haunt them.

    Finally, seeing what Meta did and projecting what the Quest 3 successor is going to be, Microsoft will not see my money anymore on the VR/MR front.

    Meta is way too good in this field and understood what Microsoft could never figure out.
    Reply
  • Cmndr_Bytes
    Why do you build me up buttercup, just to let me down.
    Reply
  • MullenWP
    Just give me a reason why it would not be another Surface Duo (change to Android from previous Windows based product line, which already betrayed same target users multiple times)?
    Reply
  • Arun Topez
    Microsoft had a superior product with the HoloLens 2 and should have innovated from that to scale it a lighter consumer-friendly size. They destroyed their UWP app platform instead of improving it, and now considering Android again while putting Windows apps as secondary? It should be the other way around. That would be a huge blow to their new Windows on ARM push and their Copilot+ PCs, as it shows they don't care about their ecosystem nor care about devs bringing more native apps to Windows. It should run Windows and it's apps natively, and secondarily able to emulate Android apps via the cloud.

    I guess this Android headset will run the upcoming "Windows App" to stream Windows apps to the device. But this not a good move.
    Reply
  • dennarai
    ShinyProton said:
    I have absolutely no confidence that Microsoft will create anything worthy in this domain, having destroyed its own platform and the brilliant team that was behind the innovation. Also, their inability to release properly priced devices to lure consumers in their project will continue to haunt them.
    At this point, this is just the most logical approach. There is no way this is ever going to catch on. I think it's really incredibly stupid of them to even be trying to go back into this after the made such a spectacle of their initial failure. They must think consumers are too stupid to recognize their inability to stick to something.

    Microsoft creates the failure of their products before they even create the products at this point and it's the only thing they're good at.
    Reply