You probably woke up to find your windows mixed reality headset no longer worked after the Windows 11 24H2 update removed platform support. That sudden loss left useful hardware idle and confusing for anyone who relied on their gear for games or apps.
Then an xbox engineer released the Oasis Driver on Steam. The free driver restores native SteamVR compatibility and skips the Mixed Reality Portal so your mixed reality headsets can track both headset and motion controllers again.
This solution is more than a quick hack. It uses a proper driver stack and connects your hardware to Valve’s platform and OpenVR/OpenXR through SteamVR. Note one key limit: the driver needs an Nvidia GPU because AMD and Intel graphics lack some required interfaces.
The developer reverse-engineered Nvidia and SteamVR interfaces and chose not to publish the source. If you want a clear path to usable gear on windows, this driver returned many headsets from obsolescence to everyday use.
Key Takeaways
- The Windows 11 24H2 update ended official support and left many headsets idle.
- The Oasis Driver on Steam restores native SteamVR support and full tracking.
- The fix bypasses the Mixed Reality Portal and links headsets to Valve’s platform.
- An Nvidia GPU is required; AMD and Intel are currently unsupported.
- The developer reverse-engineered interfaces but did not publish source code.
Xbox engineer brings Windows Mixed Reality headsets back to life with the Oasis driver and native SteamVR support
Matthieu Bucchianeri released a free Oasis Driver on Steam that lets many older windows mixed setups run as native SteamVR devices.
What happened: a free Oasis Driver revives abandoned Windows Mixed Reality headsets
The Oasis Driver routes your mixed reality headset and controllers into SteamVR. You get full 6DoF tracking and SteamVR’s rendering pipeline without the Mixed Reality Portal.
Who’s behind it: Matthieu Bucchianeri, an Xbox engineer with deep WMR and VR experience
Bucchianeri has wide experience in WMR, HoloLens, and OpenXR tooling. He reverse-engineered Nvidia and SteamVR interfaces and chose not to publish the source.
Where you get it: download via Steam and follow the quick-start documentation
Grab the Oasis Driver on Steam, follow the quick-start docs, and launch SteamVR. Note: an Nvidia GPU is required because AMD and Intel graphics lack some needed features.
From Windows Mixed Reality’s sunset to a community-led revival
When Microsoft cut official support in the 24H2 update, many owners discovered their mixed reality gear suddenly went dark. The change removed platform-level hooks that let older headsets speak with modern system APIs.
Why your headset stopped working: Windows 11 24H2 ended support for Windows Mixed Reality
Microsoft launched the platform in 2017 and popularized inside-out 6DoF tracking with two cameras. That design influenced how later devices handled tracking and controllers.
But the 24H2 deprecation pulled official support, leaving hardware incompatible with current system stacks. Without a compatible driver, the headset and its controllers could not report tracking data.
Context that matters: the platform’s rise, inside-out tracking legacy, and shifting market forces
WMR made affordable inside-out tracking mainstream and pushed other platforms to adopt similar approaches. As VR and gaming markets shifted, priorities changed and some platform efforts wound down.
The Oasis Driver bridged the gap by routing those devices into SteamVR. That community-led effort used public interfaces and reverse-engineering skills to restore functionality and expand access to modern VR libraries.
What you can do now: features, compatibility, and setup for your revived mixed reality headsets
You can revive aging mixed reality hardware and run it like a native SteamVR device after a simple install. The Oasis Driver restores full headset and controller tracking and connects your gear to OpenVR/OpenXR titles through SteamVR.
Key capabilities
The driver delivers full 6DoF tracking for both headset and motion controllers. Rendering runs inside native SteamVR, so many OpenVR and OpenXR apps work without extra middleware.
GPU reality check
This solution needs an Nvidia GPU. AMD and Intel graphics drivers currently lack required interfaces, and Intel also misses SteamVR direct-to-display support. If you use Nvidia, expect the best compatibility.
Quick setup
Install the Oasis Driver from Steam and follow the quick-start guide. Skip the Mixed Reality Portal, launch SteamVR, and your devices should appear within minutes. Setup time drops and troubleshooting is minimal.
Why this helps you
You unlock a much larger VR library and often smoother performance compared with the deprecated windows mixed reality stack. This driver keeps your hardware useful and gives you a practical path forward for supported systems.
What this means for you and the future of mixed reality on Windows
The Oasis Driver shows how one focused project can keep older VR gear useful on modern systems. It proves community work can plug discontinued devices into the SteamVR platform and restore practical value for users.
You now have a viable path to use your windows mixed reality gear again. The driver bypasses the old portal and delivers native SteamVR performance on supported systems, opening a larger gaming library and smoother app access.
That said, gaps in AMD and Intel driver support limit wider reach. Keep watching platform and GPU updates—broader vendor alignment could widen compatibility and make more hardware useful again.
In short, this effort reshapes expectations about platform stewardship and shows how targeted drivers can extend device lifespans on Windows.