OpenXR is an emerging cross-platform standard which aims to make it easier to move applications from one VR platform to another and also VR headsets from one platform on another.

Developed by Kronos Group, Open XR consists of  two middleware players:

• An API aimed at the application developers
• A Device Layer, aimed for the Virtual reality or Augmented reality hardware, presenting an abstraction interface with the device itself

Using OpenXR, applications can be written once to run on any VR system, and to access VR devices integrated into those VR systems to be used by applications.

The group consists of nearly everyone except Apple, and with the release of version 0.90 of the provisional standard Microsoft has been the first to release a runtime for the middleware platform.

Microsoft writes:

You can try out the provisional OpenXR 0.90 API today using the Mixed Reality OpenXR Developer Preview. This early runtime enables applications targeting the OpenXR 0.90 API to target Windows Mixed Reality immersive headsets on the desktop. If you don’t have access to a headset, you can use the Windows Mixed Reality Simulator instead.

Find out how to install the OpenXR runtime at Microsoft here.

via RoadtoVR