Meta Launches Xbox Edition of its Quest VR Headset

Meta’s looking to boost the appeal of VR gaming, with a new Xbox-branded Meta Quest bundle, created in partnership with Microsoft, which will enable gamers to get their hands on a limited edition, Xbox-themed Quest headset.

As you can see in this example, the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition comes in a sleek-looking black colorway, and includes a matching Xbox controller in the set.

But not an Xbox itself.

As per Meta:

“Today, Meta and Xbox are teaming up to unveil the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition - a celebration of Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) on Quest. Retailing for $US399.99, this limited edition bundle includes a custom 128GB Meta Quest 3S in signature Xbox Carbon Black and Velocity Green with matching Touch Plus controllers, a limited edition Xbox controller, an Elite Strap, and a 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership.”

So, to clarify, the regular price of a Meta Quest 3S headset is $US299, while an Xbox One controller costs around $US49.99. Add to this the 3-months of Xbox Live access ($US24.99) and it’s not actually a bargain, in terms of price. But the color looks cool, and you can bet that some Xbox fans will be keen to purchase the limited edition design, as part of their gaming set-up.

And as Meta points out, Meta Quest already integrates Xbox functionality, effectively:

“Meta Quest is an Xbox - and has been for a couple of years now, ever since we partnered with Microsoft to launch the Xbox app on Quest. Put on your Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition, and you can play hundreds of Xbox games like South of Midnight, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Avowed, and Towerborne on a larger-than-life screen. And of course, you can play all the incredible immersive experiences across gaming and entertainment from the Meta Horizon Store.”

Yeah, in terms of value, it’s not actually that great of a package, but really, the pitch here is not that this is a great deal, as such, but rather that this is a better alternative than buying an Xbox.

Which seems like a bit of a conflict for Microsoft, but presumably, it's getting a fair share of revenue from the collaboration.

And again, it’s another means for Meta to boost the appeal of its VR headset with the gaming community, by integrating its advanced headset with Xbox more directly, and inviting gamers to accessorize their set-up with a VR unit.

And while Meta has broader ambitions for its VR experience, gaming remains a key gateway for adoption.

The key interactive elements of Meta’s expanded metaverse platform involve interaction via VR avatars in entirely virtual environments. That essentially replicates the way that gamers already engage in gaming worlds like Roblox, Minecraft and Fortnite, and given this, it’s this gaming-oriented audience that Meta’s hoping to hook into for that next stage. And as such, leaning into gaming, where possible, seems like the best way to get more Quest units into people’s homes.

And as Meta points out, it already has a range of gaming experiences built for Quest, and it seems likely that these are going to draw attention for VR, ahead of its Horizon VR social experiences.

Those will evolve from utility in other means, so you can see why this integrated Quest/Xbox marketing approach makes sense.

It’s just not that great of a deal, and will be reliant on real fans who simply like the color to pay up.

Which is a limited audience, but it may also be just the first integrated offering along this line, which could see the launch of other Xbox/Quest packages, maybe later in the year, closer to Christmas.

In any event, it’s another example of Meta’s gradual ramp-up of Quest promotion, as it looks to expand its VR push.

The metaverse is also still a thing, even if Meta’s not talking about it so much, and widespread adoption of the technology is key to this push.

The limited edition Meta Quest 3S Xbox bundle is available now via  meta.com, Best Buy (USA), or Argos and EE (UK).