Windows Mixed Reality might currently be a niche within a niche, but it seems as though it has already made a bit of a dent on the VR landscape.
In its first month, Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) managed to claim 4.4 percent market share on SteamVR, competing against headsets that have been available for many years more.
The data comes from Steam's owner, Valve, who performs regular hardware surveys to showcase the hardware landscape across its sizeable game and software distribution platform.
Overall, the VR landscape on Steam remains dominated by HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, which claim almost half of the market each. Oculus Rift usage edged out the HTC Vive slightly, however, despite HTC Vive being partnered directly with Valve. The Oculus Rift's permanent price cut back in October 2017 no doubt helped it win over some sales this holiday season.
Windows Mixed Reality ownership more than doubled between November in December, up from 2 percent. I would argue that Windows Mixed Reality is still in a "soft launch" state, with little marketing, few big-name apps and games on the Microsoft Store, and with SteamVR in early access. As noted by RoadToVR, as Microsoft's SteamVR to WMR bridge reaches maturity and a public release, it's fair to expect decent growth for Microsoft's fledgling VR platform.
I always thought VR was a little bit silly having tried PSVR and Oculus Rift previously, it was HP's Windows Mixed Reality headset that made me a believer in the tech, as Windows goes further than other headsets to eliminate the divide between gaming and your actual PC.
Windows Mixed Reality headsets can be purchased for as little as $399 with motion controllers, and do not require external sensors or complex setups to create a sense of scale. Even if you're not convinced at this early stage, it's well worth keeping an eye on how this platform develops.