As promised back in August, all owners of Windows Mixed Reality headsets who are running Windows 10 will be able to run much of SteamVR's library of VR software.

This is an expansion of the SteamVR preview program for Windows Mixed Reality headsets, which was previously open to developers but will open up to all users on November 15. Interested users will be able to navigate from Microsoft's VR hub to Valve's and select from SteamVR software there.

SteamVR is best known for games like EVE Valkyrie and Project Cars, but several apps are available, too. For example, Virtual Desktop allows you to use your computer's desktop in a VR space, and Google's Tilt Brush is a VR painting experience. This preview program is a beta test, so not every app or game is expected to work perfectly right now.

Windows Mixed Reality headsets made their public consumer debut just a few weeks ago, but while there are a few excellent apps available for them, there aren't that many of those apps yet. The ability to access the SteamVR library—which has been growing for more than a year—greatly expands the options, bringing some of the best VR apps and games to the platform.

October's Fall Creators Update for Windows 10 rolled Windows Mixed Reality out to general users, and partners like Samsung have released headsets. The platform promises not just virtual reality, but augmented reality applications. Still, for most users right now, virtual reality is the chief use case.

Microsoft faces steep competition on the AR front from Apple's ARKit and Google's ARCore on mobile devices. iOS and Android devices supported by those two APIs make up the vast majority of AR-ready devices at this point, whereas Microsoft's strategy will require moving some hardware. Apple is reported to be developing its own AR headset as well, though.

Still, ARKit and ARCore aren't VR platforms like Windows Mixed Reality, and there are limitations to both. Windows Mixed Reality lays the groundwork for more robust and advanced AR experiences, apps, and games—assuming it catches on with users and developers.