Windows MR headsets finally have a second life thanks to a new free driver called Oasis, created by a Microsoft engineer. This unofficial SteamVR driver breathes new life into devices from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung, which had essentially become unusable on Windows 11.
Why Windows MR Headsets Stopped Working
When Microsoft rolled out Windows 11 24H2, support for Windows Mixed Reality (MR) was completely removed. This meant that owners of MR headsets could no longer use them at all, not even with SteamVR, since Windows MR previously relied on its own runtime. For many VR enthusiasts, expensive headsets like the HP Reverb G2 or Samsung Odyssey turned into little more than paperweights.
The Oasis SteamVR Driver
Enter Oasis—a native SteamVR driver built specifically for Windows MR headsets. Unlike older solutions that required Microsoft’s discontinued software, Oasis works directly with SteamVR. The driver supports:
- Headset tracking
- Controller tracking
- Haptics, buttons, triggers, and sticks
- Battery status reporting
- Monoscopic passthrough camera
- IPD value for Reverb and Samsung Odyssey
- Eye tracking for HP Reverb G2 Omnicept Edition
The only missing feature is Bluetooth support. Users will need to connect controllers through their PC’s Bluetooth hardware, such as a USB or PCI-E adapter.
Who Created Oasis?
Oasis was developed by Matthieu Bucchianeri, a highly experienced software engineer. He has previously worked on projects like the PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Dragon, and Microsoft’s HoloLens and Windows MR platforms. Bucchianeri also contributed to the OpenXR standard and created tools like OpenXR Toolkit and VDXR.
Interestingly, “Oasis” was originally the codename for Windows MR inside Microsoft. Bucchianeri describes the project as the result of “deep reverse-engineering, luck, and perseverance.” While he insists the driver doesn’t violate intellectual property rights, he has chosen not to release the source code to avoid any potential NDA conflicts.
Limitations of Oasis
The Oasis driver is incredibly functional but comes with one significant limitation—it only works with Nvidia graphics cards. Unfortunately, AMD and Intel GPUs are not supported. According to Bucchianeri, this is due to AMD’s refusal to allow EDID overrides and the fact that AMD’s LiquidVR “Direct-to-Display” technology has been obsolete for more than seven years.
Bringing MR Headsets Back to Life
For many VR enthusiasts, this release is a game-changer. MR headsets that were once collecting dust can now be used again for PC VR gaming on SteamVR. Users have already reported success with the HP Reverb G2, confirming that Oasis transforms a discontinued device into a fully functional VR headset once more.
