If Windows in mixed reality sounds like something you’d enjoy, rejoice. Microsoft said on Tuesday at Microsoft Ignite 2024 that the “full capabilities” of Windows 11 will be available as a public preview in December for the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S.
In this sense, “full capabilities” refers to the ability to access a local Windows PC or a cloud instance of Windows using a Quest headset. Microsoft claims it only takes “seconds” to connect and compares the experience to a “private, high-quality, large, multi-monitor workstation.” We’ll decide that.
This new Windows modality supports apps that extend into 3D space, which is enabled via what Microsoft refers to as Volumetric Apps. During a May demo, Microsoft displayed a digital exploded view of an Xbox controller from the perspective of a Quest 3 wearer – an object that the user could handle with their hands.
Developers can join up to gain access to an API that lets them create plug-ins for new or current 3D Windows desktop apps.
Microsoft previewed Windows content for Quest as far back as 2022, when it announced a partnership with Meta to provide select Windows programs, including Microsoft Teams, to Meta headsets. Last December, Microsoft introduced Microsoft 365 productivity services from Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to the Quest, as well as its video game streaming service, Xbox Cloud Gaming.
