Back in September at their Connect event, Meta revealed a collaboration with Microsoft aimed at allowing Windows 11 PCs to pair seamlessly with Quest headsets through a wireless connection. Exciting news came recently as both tech giants announced that users could start exploring this feature with a preview set to release in December.
With this upcoming feature, owners of the Quest 3 and Quest 3S will gain the ability to link up their devices to Windows 11 PCs for an enhanced multi-monitor workspace. This setup will certainly ring a bell for Vision Pro users who have been enjoying a similar Mac Virtual Display integration since February 2024.
Microsoft has stated that the feature will debut in a public preview phase sometime in December. They are optimistic that this initiative will attract users eager to boost their productivity in novel ways.
“Windows in mixed reality is about delivering the full spectrum of Windows 11 capabilities to mixed reality headsets, starting with Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S,” explained Melissa Grant, Microsoft 365’s Senior Director of Product Marketing, in a blog post. “Connecting your Quest headset to a local Windows PC or a Windows 365 Cloud PC is straightforward, offering a quick, high-quality, private, and multi-monitor workstation experience.”
During the feature’s preview at the Connect event, Meta showcased a slick new way of connecting to your PC: simply glance at your keyboard and you’re off, effortlessly dragging windows around a host of virtual monitors. This method is quite the upgrade compared to relying on Meta’s own Air Link’s Remote Desktop experience.
Though Quest has made its mark as VR’s top standalone gaming console, Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, believes tighter Windows integration is a promising direction for the future of Quest.
“This represents an evolution towards creating a robust computing platform,” Zuckerberg noted. “Games play a significant role, but Quest is designed for more than that. It’s a versatile tool for apps, video watching, and all sorts of tasks you’d typically perform on a conventional computer. Quest is the complete package.”
We’re definitely keeping tabs on when this feature will officially drop and promise to keep you updated on any fresh news. Stay tuned!
