Minecraft VR is officially DEAD – and players are scrambling for alternatives

By HOAR Team 7 May, 2025 4 mins read 152 Views

So I woke up to some pretty crappy news today. If you're one of those Minecraft players who loves the immersive experience of building blocky masterpieces in VR, I've got a punch to the gut for you – Microsoft just pulled the plug. Like, completely. As of right now.

Yep, that's right. Virtual reality support for Minecraft is officially GONE.

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The end of an era (that nobody saw coming)

Microsoft actually warned us about this back in October, saying they'd shut down VR support in March. But in typical big-tech fashion, they dragged it out an extra two months before finally pulling teh trigger. I had a friend who literally bought an Oculus last Christmas primarily for Minecraft. Poor guy. His response when I texted him this morning: "Are you kidding me right now?"

Listen. I've been playing Minecraft since 2011, and I remember when VR support first rolled out for the Oculus Rift back in 2016. It was mind-blowing! Swimming with dolphins or fighting off creepers in virtual reality felt like the future we were promised.

Now it's just... gone.

What happens to your blocky empire?

The good news (if we can call anything about this situation "good") is that you won't lose your worlds or purchases. Microsoft has confirmed that all your builds, Minecoins, and marketplace items will still be accessible – just not through your fancy headset.

Instead, you'll need to play on a regular screen like it's 2015 or something.

"Our ability to support VR/MR devices has come to an end, and will no longer be supported," Microsoft's Minecraft team stated with all the emotional warmth of a snow golem in the Nether. They added that "you will no longer be able to use your VR/MR device with Minecraft as it will no longer be supported in the latest updates."

Why would they do this???

Microsoft hasn't actually explained WHY they're killing VR support. But let's be real – it's almost certainly about the numbers. Minecraft has over 200 million monthly active users (which is absolutely bonkers when you think about it), but VR players probably make up a tiny fraction of that.

I spent $400 on my VR headset back in 2019, and Minecraft was one of the main reasons. Now I'm wondering if I should just sell the thing on eBay.

From blocks to blockbusters

It's kinda wild that this is happening right after "A Minecraft Movie" hit theaters in April. Microsoft paid a staggering $2.5 billion for Minecraft and Mojang in 2014, which seemed absolutely insane at the time.

Now? Probably the best investment they've ever made.

I remember arguing with my roommate about whether that purchase price made any sense. He owes me $20 now. (Though I'm still waiting to collect...)

Where do we go from here?

If you're one of the affected players, your options are pretty limited. You can either: 1. Switch to playing on a regular screen 2. Cry into your now-useless VR headset 3. Hope that Microsoft eventually changes their mind

I wouldn't hold my breath for option 3.

The most frustrating part? This feels like such a step backward. VR Minecraft was genuinely special – building massive structures and then walking through them at human scale was an experience unlike anything else in gaming.

And now it's just... done.

I guess I'll see you all on regular screens now. Feels like downgrading from a sports car to a bicycle, but what choice do we have?

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https://hellofaread.com/gaming/dusty-playstation-treasures-your-old-games-could-be-worth-a-small-fortune