A Microsoft engineer has breathed new life into the Windows Mixed Reality headsets, which had been rendered obsolete following the abrupt discontinuation of the platform last year. With the release of the Oasis driver, these once-abandoned devices can now support SteamVR, rekindling interest among virtual reality enthusiasts.
Matthieu Bucchianeri, a software engineer with a background in developing Microsoft’s Mixed Reality technology, has made the Oasis driver available for free on Steam. The name “Oasis” pays homage to the codename used during the development of Microsoft’s Mixed Reality initiatives. This innovative driver requires an Nvidia GPU, as it utilizes features that are not supported by AMD and Intel graphics drivers, according to Bucchianeri.
The Oasis driver operates independently of the Mixed Reality Portal application, allowing users to run OpenVR and OpenXR applications seamlessly through SteamVR. Bucchianeri notes that the driver provides comprehensive tracking for both the headset and motion controllers, alongside a native SteamVR rendering pipeline.
While it would have been ideal for Microsoft to release such a driver to prevent the headsets from becoming obsolete with the latest Windows 11 updates, Bucchianeri took the initiative to create this solution independently. His work involved reverse-engineering Nvidia and SteamVR code, and although he has chosen not to release the source code, the Oasis driver remains free for users.
For those eager to explore the capabilities of the Oasis driver, it is readily available for download on Steam. Users are encouraged to consult the quick start documentation to ensure a smooth setup experience.
