Key Takeaways
- By the end of 2024, owners of Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S will be able to stream the game natively on Windows 11.
- Both a local PC and a Windows 365 cloud desktop can be used for streaming.
- A public preview of the feature will be made accessible at first.
The Quest 3 and Quest 3S VR headsets from Meta will be able to run Windows 11 desktops without the need for third-party software by the end of 2024.
Microsoft said at its Ignite 2024 event that you may stream a desktop hosted in the cloud using Windows 365 or pair and link with a local Windows PC. Users are supposedly taken to a mixed reality workstation with support for numerous virtual monitors after a brief connecting process. There might be some issues because the December release will be a public preview.
Quest users have long been able to use third-party programs like Virtual Desktop to access their Windows PCs, but depending on system requirements, native compatibility might make the experience more seamless. Virtual Desktop requires a local Windows PC to be on 5GHz Wi-Fi or physically connected to a router via Ethernet, as anything less could add too much lag. Microsoft hasn’t yet found those. In keeping with that, Microsoft has likewise made no comments regarding the potential effectiveness of gaming. Certain VR games might become unplayable with even slight lag.
The business did clarify that customers would have access to Windows 11’s “full capabilities” and that virtual monitors can be resized. This is similar to the Apple Vision Pro, which is a key tool for extending Mac desktops. Sharper resolution is the Vision Pro’s primary advantage in that regard, but it comes at a hefty $3,500 price tag, compared to $500 for a Quest 3 or $300 for a Quest 3S.
Ignite 2024 focused heavily on cloud connectivity to Windows, mostly due to the recently revealed Windows 365 Link, a tiny desktop computer designed just for cloud computing. The Link does not have a local app or data storage, which is likely how Windows 365 will function on Quest headsets.
