Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition officially announced: 'This is an Xbox you can wear'

Meta formally announces a special edition Xbox-themed Quest 3S virtual reality headset as Microsoft further expands beyond consoles.

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Microsoft wants to bring Xbox services to all devices that can play them, including VR headsets. But there's just one problem: Making hardware is expensive, and Xbox VR was nixed a while back. That's the impetus behind today's hardware reveal, the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition.

Rather than make its own VR headsets, Microsoft teamed up with Meta to make an Xbox-branded Quest 3 headset. The bundle is Xbox only in name and color palette--it's still just a Quest 3S--but it does come with a custom Xbox controller and 3 months of Xbox Game Pass for $399. The headset is now available over on Meta's website.

• Read more: First image of Xbox-branded VR headset leaks ahead of official unveiling
• Read more: Windows 11 support for Meta Quest arrives next month: huge virtual monitors for your desktop OS
• Read more: Meta Quest 3S announced, same Snapdragon processor, cheaper lenses reduce cost

For the first time, we're thrilled to deliver a Quest headset that not only delivers incredible mixed reality experiences but is also crafted for Xbox fans. The Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition is available today for $399.99 USD, and it comes loaded with everything you need to start gaming on a massive virtual display the moment you open the box.

This bundle includes:

• Custom 128GB Meta Quest 3S in Xbox Carbon Black and Velocity Green
• Matching Touch Plus controllers and a limited-edition Xbox Wireless Controller
• Meta Quest Elite Strap
• 3 months of Meta Horizon+
• 3 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

This strategy is simple: Microsoft wants to tack on its Game Pass subscription service to yet another endpoint. The cohesiveness of Xbox's cross-platform infrastructure will serve up the content.

Quest VR users are likely already PC users, so there's a library of games that can be accessed via Xbox Game Pass. Thanks to Xbox cloud streaming, users can start up a game on PC and then continue where they left off on the Quest 3S.

Microsoft recently announced that it is unifying Xbox and Windows together into a singular platform that will break down the barriers between PC and console storefronts:

"This is all about building you a gaming platform that's always with you, so you can play the games you want across devices anywhere you want, delivering you an Xbox experience not locked to a single store or tied to a single device," Xbox gaming president Sarah Bond said.

"That's why we're working closely with the Windows team to ensure Windows is the #1 platform for gaming."