Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) headsets, rendered non-functional by Microsoft’s discontinuation of the platform with the Windows 11 24H2 update, have been given a new lease on life thanks to an independent effort by a Microsoft Xbox engineer.
Matthieu Bucchianeri, formerly a software engineer for Windows Mixed Reality, has released a free “Oasis Driver for Windows Mixed Reality” on Steam. The driver, named after Microsoft’s internal codename “Oasis” for its Mixed Reality project, restores SteamVR support to the abandoned headsets.
According to Bucchianeri, the Oasis driver necessitates an Nvidia GPU due to its reliance on features absent in AMD and Intel graphics drivers. The driver eliminates the need for the Mixed Reality Portal application, enabling users to run OpenVR and OpenXR applications directly through SteamVR.
The Oasis driver provides comprehensive headset and motion controller tracking, along with a native SteamVR rendering pipeline. Bucchianeri developed the driver by reverse-engineering Nvidia and SteamVR code. He has chosen not to release the source code, but the driver remains free for users to download and utilize from Steam.
Quick-start documentation is available to guide users through the setup process. This community-driven solution effectively circumvents Microsoft’s abandonment of the WMR platform, offering users a pathway to continue using their headsets.
