Windows Mixed Reality headsets are disappearing from Microsoft's store

[midian182]

In context: Microsoft’s line of Windows Mixed Reality headsets—the wearable VR devices developed in partnership with companies including Dell, Asus, Lenovo, and HP—haven’t exactly been smash hits, which might explain why they are disappearing from online stores, including Microsoft’s.

The headsets were introduced back in 2017 and most have been available on Microsoft’s store since then. But RoadtoVR notes that for at least a week, the Windows Mixed Reality headset store page has shown just three headsets, and two of those are out of stock.

In the US, only the Samsung HMD Odyssey+ can be bought from Microsoft’s store, with products from Lenovo and Asus unavailable. In the UK, the only Mixed Reality headset listed is HP’s.

On Amazon, most of the Windows Mixed Reality devices are showing as being low on stock or unavailable, while Best Buy also contains products listed as either sold out or with clearance discounts.

RoadtoVR notes that this could be because of a common component stock shortage that has resulted in manufacturing delays, but there has been little interest surrounding the Windows Mixed Reality headsets since their launch two years ago, and some models might be getting discontinued.

Microsoft removing the headsets from its store might not be too much of a surprise. Earlier this year, a report by German site WindowsUnited.de discovered the company would no longer be paying commission on the devices, which seem better suited to the enterprise market rather than consumers.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/80658-windows-mixed-reality-headsets-disappearing-microsoft-store.html

 

[Mouseface]

Hololens 2 is coming soon though?

 

[VitalyT]

Microsoft - how to fail on most of its projects, yet survive and grow bigger.

 

[DocRings]

I own the Odyssey... Microsoft needs to do a couple things to make it better, usable and enjoyable:

Get rid of the stupid "VR house" interface... Just let the headset run the desktop as a monitor, and let me select the icons I want to play from my desktop. It's a HUGE bummer and PITA to have to run around a "house" to the family room and the living room, reset my orientation to the wall, and whatever machinations required to run different games or apps...ugh. makes me not want to use the thing.
Second, develop the drivers for as many games as possible so that when the game starts, the view is not too low, or too high, or distorted or whatever makes it just run wonky. So wonky for too many games that it just sits on the shelf nowadays.

 

[TheMike]

I own the Odyssey... Microsoft needs to do a couple things to make it better, usable and enjoyable:

Get rid of the stupid "VR house" interface... Just let the headset run the desktop as a monitor, and let me select the icons I want to play from my desktop. It's a HUGE bummer and PITA to have to run around a "house" to the family room and the living room, reset my orientation to the wall, and whatever machinations required to run different games or apps...ugh. makes me not want to use the thing.
Second, develop the drivers for as many games as possible so that when the game starts, the view is not too low, or too high, or distorted or whatever makes it just run wonky. So wonky for too many games that it just sits on the shelf nowadays.

Unfortunately, you are in the minority on the VR houses. The reason why Steam and HTC and Oculus and Samsung all have vr houses is that they are hugely popular. Take a look at all the games that are out there that let you build or decorate your own houses and look at how much time gamers spend on this and like this. That said MS does let you launch games right from the desktop now without going through the vr house now. The VR houses are not going away any time soon. They may not be popular with you but they are hugely popular with a ton of gamers. I and many others wish the vr houses were multiplayer where you could invite people over to play some games or hang out and chat and show off what you built. Not sure what you mean by the view to high or low. When you start VR it asks you to look down it sets the hight by that. If you start out standing and then sit you have to reset it. I personally have over 100 games and have had no problems with it at all. I have games on steam on MS and on video, they all work great.

The only thing I wish is that it was wireless. Not wireless like the phone level ones but wireless but still connected to a laptop or pc.

Also not sure what this article means. Several new mixed reality headsets just came out and more are coming out. They may not but dominating the market but the market share has gone up every month. take a look at the steam numbers. They get more market share in steam every month. The big issue right now is more killer games are needed. Games designed from the ground up for VR not converted. Games like Skyrim but built for VR. Wireless and better games will take mixed reality to the next level. However its still doing fine and now and growing every month.