Meta’s Horizon+ subscription service just got a whole lot more enticing for VR enthusiasts. The company has announced a partnership with Microsoft to bring a “starter edition” of Xbox Game Pass to the platform, effectively adding over 50 non-VR games to the existing library of 100+ VR titles. But there’s a catch – this new bundle comes with a limited cloud gaming allowance of just 10 hours per month, unless you upgrade to the full Xbox Game Pass service.
This integration is a significant boost for Horizon+ subscribers, who can now access a vast library of games from their favorite developers, including titles like Fallout 4, Overcooked 2, and Deep Rock Galactic. And while these cloud-based Xbox games aren’t natively optimized for VR (playing instead on a flat virtual screen), they can be scaled up to fit any environment, from a cozy living room to an immersive cinema-sized experience.
But what’s even more exciting is the upcoming release of Xbox gamepad emulation for Quest’s Touch controllers. No longer will users need to pair a separate Xbox gamepad via Bluetooth – the Touch controllers themselves will become fully compatible with the platform, opening up new possibilities for VR gaming.
This move by Meta feels like a strategic counter-move to Valve’s impending Steam Frame launch, which promises to bring seamless integration of local and cloud-based gaming to the PC. By offering a “taster” of Xbox cloud games on Quest, Meta is effectively maintaining feature parity with its rival while keeping costs low for users. However, it’s worth noting that this limited-time bundle only allows for 10 hours of cloud gaming per month, after which you’ll need to upgrade to the full Xbox Game Pass service or risk losing access to your subscription library.
While some may see this as a clever marketing ploy, one thing is certain – Horizon+ subscribers are in for a treat. With over 150 games to choose from (including both VR and non-VR titles), there’s never been a better time to dive into the world of VR gaming on Quest. And with Meta continuing to push the boundaries of what’s possible in immersive entertainment, we can’t wait to see what’s next.
As VR enthusiasts, this development is music to our ears. We’ve long argued that the future of VR lies not just in its native applications, but also in its ability to seamlessly integrate with traditional gaming ecosystems. With Meta and Microsoft working together to bring Xbox Game Pass to Horizon+, we’re one step closer to realizing a unified vision for immersive entertainment – where boundaries between screens and platforms begin to blur.
Source: Road to VR — 2026-07-22