Microsoft has announced that certain PCs running Windows 10 will receive support for mixed reality – through Windows 10 Holographic – next year.
If you long to join in on the fun with virtual or augmented reality, you might not have that long to wait. Microsoft, through Terry Myerson (its Executive Vice President of Windows and Devices) has confirmed that all Windows 10 PCs will receive support for mixed (or augmented) reality as soon as next year.
The announcement revealed that support for Windows 10 Holographic – the same operating system Microsoft first developed for HoloLens and later general mixed or virtual reality headsets – will arrive on the platform next year.
Read: Windows Holographic OS is the defining moment of virtual reality
While that news might usually come alongside the announcement that one might need a hefty gaming rig in order to make use of the platform, that wasn’t the case; Myerson confirmed that compatible PCs will range from computers equipped with Intel NUCs and embedded Iris graphics all the way to heavier gaming rigs.
https://youtu.be/Gu09UWqS8-Q
This means that a variety of basic (all the way to advanced) PCs will benefit from the capability to support virtual reality headsets.
Myerson further confirmed that the offering will see optimization for both PCs and laptops, and that the update would benefit not only Microsoft’s HoloLens headset, but further Intel’s Project Alloy initiative.
While a specific release date is yet to be announced, Microsoft confirmed that the update would arrive next year; leaving us to speculate it could form part of Windows 10’s second Anniversary Update.
Read: 5 improvements coming to Windows 10‘s Anniversary Update
What are your thoughts on the news that many Windows 10-based PCs will be able to support mixed, augmented, and virtual reality through Windows 10 Holographic? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Follow Bryan Smith on Twitter: @bryansmithSA
