Today, Meta and Microsoft officially launched the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition, a first-of-its-kind limited-edition VR headset that merges Meta’s mixed reality experience with Xbox Cloud Gaming. Priced at $399.99, this bundle marks a clear step in enhancing portable gaming.
🎮 1. Xbox-Themed Bundle with Premium Extras
The headset sports a striking Carbon Black and Velocity Green design, matching all included accessories:
- 128 GB Meta Quest 3S headset
- Xbox-styled Touch Plus controllers
- Pre-paired Xbox wireless controller
- Meta Quest Elite Strap
- 3-month subscriptions to Meta Horizon+ and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
☁️ 2. Purpose-Built for Cloud Gaming
It’s tailored for Xbox Cloud Gaming, with the headset booting directly into the Xbox app. Users can play over 100 supported Game Pass titles like Forza Horizon 5 and Elder Scrolls IV on a virtual 26-foot screen or in AR passthrough mode
💰 3. Great Value & Accessibility
At $399, it’s $100 more than the base Quest 3S—it includes premium extras like the Elite Strap and Game Pass. Still, reviews say it’s “the best value in VR” for Xbox fans.
🧩 4. Same Hardware, Better Style
The limited edition keeps Quest 3S internals untouched—Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, 8 GB RAM, mixed-reality features, etc. It’s purely an aesthetic and bundle upgrade.
🎯 5. Tight Xbox-Meta Collaboration
Under Microsoft’s “This is an Xbox” strategy, this collaboration expands Xbox OS reach into VR and other hardware. Meta previously promised an Xbox-branded headset through Reality Labs and Horizon OS licensing.
✅ 6. Hands-On Highlights
Reviewers note the UI uses Xbox color accents, the controller pairs seamlessly, and cloud gaming is smooth albeit with occasional bitrate limits. Forza Horizon 5 looked “blocky at times”, but lag was minimal.
⚠️ 7. Limited Availability
Stock is extremely limited. It’s launching today in the U.S. and UK, available via Meta’s online store, Best Buy, Argos, and EE. Once sold out, it may not return.
🔍 Why It Matters
This bundle shows Xbox’s push beyond consoles into VR/cloud gaming. It makes immersive gaming portable, aligning with Xbox’s software-first strategy and diversifying the ecosystem. If Microsoft ever builds a native VR headset, this could be step one. windowscentral.com
