Microsoft renames Windows Holographic to Windows Mixed Reality

In today’s blog post announcing their new development kit it was the first time we heard of Windows Mixed Reality, and it may also be one of the last time we hear of Windows Holographic, as Microsoft has confirmed that they have dropped that name in favour of the earlier title.

In an exclusive comment to ourselves they note:

Microsoft renamed “Windows Holographic” to “Windows Mixed Reality” to be more encompassing of the company’s broader vision for the platform. We’re unifying the mixed reality ecosystem around a platform that enables shared experiences and interoperability between headsets. By opening up the Windows Mixed Reality platform to the industry at large, we anticipate the growth of holographic apps will make for stronger experiences and better devices for everyone.

Another way to look at it may be that Microsoft is de-emphasising the connection between the Windows Mixed Reality platform and the HoloLens headset, which has sold in tiny numbers and which is not expected to have a successor for many years.

Windows Mixed Reality of course follows in a long tradition of less than inspiring names such as Word and Windows Phone, and does not quite roll off the tongue. Hopefully the wave of Windows Mixed Reality headsets expected this year will help us get used to it faster.

Microsoft’s dedicated Windows Mixed Reality micro-site can be seen here.