Whispers in the tech world suggest that Xbox and Meta might be collaborating on a new VR device. Following statements from Sarah Bond about an upcoming “portfolio of Xbox devices,” rumors have intensified, especially with the alleged leak of a Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition box. What could this mean for the future of gaming?

The name itself hints at a special edition of the Meta Quest 3S VR glasses,reportedly sporting a distinctive black design. The big question is whether this new headset will rival the PlayStation VR2. The short answer is “technically not,” but the full picture is more nuanced.

This Isn’t Just Xbox VR… But You Might Play ‘Doom: The Dark Ages’ on Meta Quest

“A large 2D virtual screen is enabled in mixed actually. Which is not bad, everything is saeid.”

For the past couple of years, xbox Game Pass subscribers have been able to stream games to their Meta Quest headsets via Xbox Cloud Gaming. While this doesn’t transform games like ‘Doom: The dark Ages’ or ‘Call of Duty’ into native VR experiences, it does allow players to enjoy them on a large virtual screen within a mixed reality habitat.

This cloud gaming integration was a significant step for Xbox,enhancing the value of Game Pass. However, the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition isn’t intended to be a dedicated Xbox VR headset. Instead, it’s rumored to be a limited-edition Meta Quest inspired by Xbox, as indicated by statements made in April 2024.

The Meta Quest 3S boasts several advantages, including a compelling library of exclusive VR titles like Batman: Arkham shadow and Asgard’s Wrath 2. Furthermore, it operates as a standalone device, eliminating the need for a PC or console connection, though it can still connect to Steam for an expanded game catalog.

Current Meta Quest models are powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip with 8GB of RAM.The ability to play Xbox games comes primarily through Xbox Game Pass cloud streaming. While surprises are always possible, this is the moast reliable way to play Xbox games on the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition. Of course, players can also access VR titles on Steam, such as ‘Fallout VR’. It’s possible that Meta has additional announcements planned.

The leaked image of the VR device’s packaging originated from the Zuby_tech account and has been corroborated by sources like Insider gaming. The packaging also features an Xbox controller, though it’s unclear whether it will be included with the Meta quest 3S Xbox Edition.Meta previously announced plans for a limited edition headset, so an official reveal might potentially be imminent.

Meta Quest 3S xbox Edition: What we Know and What’s Being Said

While official details remain scarce, the leaked packaging and circulating rumors suggest an official announcement could happen around June 24th. Speculation points to a potential price of $399, 128GB of storage, and a three-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate included in each box.

Ultimately, Microsoft and Meta need to finalize their plans. While it’s difficult to definitively say whether this collaboration will be a simple branding exercise or something more substantial, it’s clear that the Xbox logo will be appearing in more places, which is generally good news for gamers.

Microsoft’s strategy aims to position Xbox as a platform-agnostic gaming experience, accessible anywhere, rather then just another console tied to a TV. This includes devices like the ROG Ally and collaborations with AMD for the next generation of consoles. the goal is to allow players to enjoy franchises like ‘Gears of War’ and ‘forza’ wherever they choose, possibly even in virtual reality.