Meta just launched a $400 Xbox Edition Quest 3S headset - and it's full of surprises

Meta

Meta has officially entered into a new partnership with Microsoft by launching its "first-ever limited edition" headset -- the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition. 

For this new bundle, the tech giant isn't changing the headset's hardware. It's still the same Quest 3S running on a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset. It still supports full-color pass-through and can display content on a huge, 26-foot digital screen. The hardware may be staying the same, but the various differences will make this package a lot more enticing to gamers.

Review: Meta Quest 3S

Obviously, the most notable difference is its color. Gone is the bright white design, which has been replaced by the "signature Xbox Carbon Black." Certain aspects of the headset, like the edge around the visor, are accented in a vibrant Velocity Green. This color scheme also extends to the Touch Plus controllers.

The only major upgrade seemingly done to the Quest 3S Xbox bundle comes with a Quest Elite Strap, which is a lightweight head strap that evenly distributes the headset's weight for maximum comfort.

As part of the bundle, Meta is including a free Xbox controller in the same Carbon Black and Velocity Green colors. The announcement doesn't specify which controller it is, but looking at the official images, it appears to be an Xbox Elite Wireless Controller. It comes pre-paired with the headset, so you can just pick up and play. But if you prefer using the base Xbox Wireless Controller or the Adaptive Controller, you can connect them via Bluetooth.

Minecraft Dungeons on Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition

Meta

To further sweeten the deal, the Quest 3S Xbox bundle includes a three-month subscription to both Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Meta Horizon Plus. It's not three months collectively, either. Each service receives its own trial. If you already have a subscription to the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, those three months "will stack on top of your existing time."

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The Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition is currently on sale for $400 over at the company's website. Meta is urging interested shoppers to act fast because there will be a limited supply. To quote the tech giant directly, "once it's gone, it's gone."