Windows Holographic on aggressively priced VR headsets is a baby step for Microsoft’s mixed reality

Microsoft won’t skip virtual reality and jump directly to augmented reality. Instead, the company is combining these technologies into its Windows Holographic platform while also getting aggressive on pricing and capabilities.

Microsoft revealed a lineup of third-party VR headsets that start at $300 and run on the Holographic variation of Windows 10 today at an event in New York City. These headsets feature sensors that enable the device to track its position without external devices like a camera. This is also the first time that the company is showing off how the operating system it had previously shown for the HoloLens AR head-mounted display works with VR. For Microsoft, this is obviously an opportunity to ensure Windows continues to serve as the backbone of future computing platforms. Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android have already pushed Microsoft out of mobile, which has a gaming business that is worth $36.6 billion alone. With VR and AR, however, Microsoft is working to establish itself early.