Microsoft and Meta have unveiled the first VR headset to bear Xbox branding: the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition. Aside from being an Xbox-themed version of the existing Meta Quest 3S, the limited-run VR headset comes bundled with exclusive accessories and subscriptions to both Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Meta Horizon+, but prospective buyers must act fast.
While PlayStation has been investing heavily in VR over the past decade, its staunch competitor Xbox expressed skepticism towards the popularity of the medium. In 2019, Xbox boss Phil Spencer confirmed that the Xbox Series X won’t feature VR integration because “nobody’s asking” for it, nor do they “expect” it from the brand. Microsoft even reiterated in 2021 that “VR for console is not a focus” for the gaming giant, in response to rumors that the Series X could get VR support. In recent years, though, Microsoft’s stance on the intermingling of Xbox and VR seems to have softened, as Xbox Cloud Gaming arrived on Meta Quest headsets in 2022, followed by Game Pass support for Meta Quest 3 in 2023.
Mere days after the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition’s packaging leaked, the VR headset bundle has broken cover and is now available to order, but Microsoft says stock is extremely limited, so “once they’re gone, they’re gone.” On offer is a 128GB Meta Quest 3S draped in Xbox’s iconic Carbon Black and Velocity Green color scheme, matching Touch Plus controllers, and a limited-edition Xbox wireless controller. Also included in the box are an Elite Strap for extended comfort, a glass spacer, a universal power adapter, and three months of Meta Horizon+ and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Priced at $400, the Quest 3S Xbox Edition is available through Meta’s official website and select retailers, including Best Buy.
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Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition Price and Everything Included in the Bundle
- $399.99
- Black-and-green Xbox-branded 128GB Quest 3S headset
- Black-and-green Touch Plus controllers
- Limited-edition Xbox wireless controller
- Meta Quest Elite Strap
- 3 months of Meta Horizon+
- 3 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
As for performance, the Quest 3S Xbox Edition is no different under the hood to the vanilla Quest 3S headset. It features dual LCDs with an 1832×1920 resolution per eye, Fresnel lenses, a 96-degree horizontal field of view, and up to 120hz refresh rate, all running on the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. While the Quest 3S Xbox Edition doesn’t deliver full VR versions of Xbox games, players can access cloud gaming through a dedicated Xbox app with multiple display options – like a cinema-sized screen – and pick up where they left off thanks to cross-progression. There’s also a vast array of VR games already available on Quest.
While this collaboration between Microsoft and Meta may surprise fans who recall Phil Spencer’s comments on VR, it lines up with the gaming giant’s current strategy of expanding Xbox’s reach across various forms of hardware and services. Notably, Microsoft also revealed the Asus ROG Xbox Ally earlier this month, which is another third-party collaboration that helps Xbox venture into a space it was previously absent in: handheld consoles.
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