Xbox Game Pass has expanded its reach to a new platform through a partnership with Meta, the parent company of Facebook. A starter edition of Xbox Game Pass is now available to subscribers of Meta Horizon+, Meta's virtual reality gaming subscription service. This collaboration grants access to over 50 games playable via cloud streaming on Meta Quest headsets.
Users can download games directly from the cloud to their Meta Quest headset. The initial selection of titles includes popular games such as Fallout 76, Fallout 4, Overcooked 2, Grounded, DayZ, Deep Rock Galactic, and Snowrunner. A notable limitation of this starter edition is a 10-hour monthly cap on cloud-streaming gameplay, and a high-speed internet connection is required for optimal performance.
Meta has indicated that future updates will allow players to use their Meta Quest Touch controllers to emulate an Xbox controller. Alternatively, existing Xbox controllers can be paired with the headset for gameplay. Meta Horizon+ itself operates similarly to other subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, offering a curated library of VR games, exclusive deals, and additional perks for a monthly fee of $8 or an annual charge of $60.
For those seeking a more extensive library, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate remains accessible through a dedicated Xbox app within the Meta marketplace. This option also utilizes cloud streaming for game access but represents a separate, more premium subscription. A 5Ghz internet connection is recommended for this service to ensure a lag-free experience.
This is not the first instance of collaboration between Meta and Xbox. Last year, the companies introduced the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition, a virtual and mixed-reality headset featuring a carbon black design, matching controllers, an Xbox controller, and a three-month Xbox Game Pass subscription. This headset, positioned as a more accessible version of the Quest 3, offers slightly improved battery life and a lower price point, though the cost of Meta's Quest headsets has recently seen an increase of $50-$100, attributed by Meta to global memory shortages. The company has committed to maintaining current pricing for Quest headset accessories.