The new free update of Microsoft’s operating system will begin to be distributed worldwide from April 11, adding support for mixed reality.
Microsoft has announced that next April 11 will begin the distribution of the Creators Update, a free update for Windows 10 that, among other novelties, adds the compatibility with mixed reality that will allow us to enjoy virtual and augmented reality experiences with the new devices that will arrive at the end of the year. Companies have already started developing for the platform thanks to the developer kit manufactured by Acer that began shipping this month.
Mixed reality is what Microsoft calls the combination between the real and the virtual world, allowing, for example, virtual reality experiences that alert us to real objects, as we can see in this video. Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo are the first manufacturers to launch viewfinders compatible with the platform, integrating sensors capable of offering absolute inside-out positioning, without requiring external accessories, so they will allow easy configuration and use. These new HMDs will be available at the end of the year with prices starting from €299. The update will also bring WebVR support to Microsoft Edge.
The new update wants us to give free rein to the creator inside us, focusing on facilitating the creation and sharing of 3D elements. The classic Paint tool is expanded with a new 3D application to create and manage objects from scratch, and the Remix3D page offers a 3D art library that we can use or add our elements. Other new features are the ability that Windows 10 integrates to be able to broadcast our games live through the Beam service that is already available on Xbox One, cross-play between Windows 10 and Xbox One users, the possibility of playing a game on PC or console with Xbox Play Anywhere, and the game mode that once activated allows the system to dedicate more resources to the application.
At the moment, neither Oculus nor HTC have indicated if their headsets will be compatible with the new mixed reality platform that Microsoft is preparing. You can find more information about all the features that Creators Update adds in the following link. From April 11 we will be able to update Windows 10 by accessing Windows Update, although until the end of the year we will not have compatible viewers on PC and for Microsoft consoles we will have to wait for 2018.
