Well, well, well, look who is today’s hero in virtual reality world. No, it’s not Facebook. It’s not HTC or even Sony. It’s … Microsoft, and it signals that one of the other big megacorps in tech is ready to dive deeper into the emerging scene around VR, augmented reality, and mixed reality.

Tuesday, Microsoft announced it had acquired the AltspaceVR team as part of its push into mixed reality, it is working with Samsung on the Odyssey mixed reality headset, and integration with SteamVR (meaning its library of apps and games will work with this device). Microsoft dubs mixed reality headsets as gear that can work with VR or AR.

Right now, AR appears to on the rise, thanks to Apple’s ARKit and Google’s ARCore. These work with hundreds of millions of devices people already own, whereas VR right now requires pricey headsets and PCs powerful enough to run the software for this new reality.

Is Microsoft trying to play it safe by making devices that run AR and VR? Or does the Windows and Xbox company get that marrying these options together will produce a transformative technology, one that does more than either VR or AR can do alone?

For AR/VR coverage, send news tips to Dean Takahashi and Jeff Grubb (for those that cross over into PC gaming). Please send guest post submissions to Rowan Kaiser. Please be sure to visit our AR/VR Channel.

—Jason Wilson, GamesBeat managing editor

P.S. Let’s hang out in the VR Rec Room this week.

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