Meta and Xbox have officially announced a new partnership that bundles Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition with Meta Horizons+ subscriptions at no additional cost.
Meta Unveils Horizons+ Subscriptions That Come With Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition
According to a new blog post from Meta, the Horizons+ subscription service is getting the Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition bundled into the service, only setting back users the same $7.99 per month or $59.99 per year.
The latest partnership builds on an existing relationship between Meta and Xbox that already allowed Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to stream games through their Meta Quest headsets. This move extends that integration to Horizons+ subscribers directly, giving them their own slice of the Game Pass library without needing a separate Xbox subscription.
Back in May, Xbox announced a similar arrangement with Discord, bundling the same Game Pass Starter Edition with Discord Nitro memberships. The Meta partnership follows that same model, signaling that Microsoft is actively expanding Game Pass access through platform partnerships rather than relying solely on direct subscriptions.
"Today, we're building on that with a new benefit connected to the Meta Horizon+ subscription, giving you another way to discover and play with Game Pass," said Xbox.
Horizons+ Is Like a Bundle Now With This Deal
Meta Horizons+ was already a strong value proposition for Quest headset owners on its own, offering access to over 100 VR games, monthly game drops, and exclusive discounts.
Adding the Game Pass Starter Edition on top of that turns it into something closer to a bundle, giving subscribers a second catalog of non-VR games to dig into across Xbox consoles, PC, and through cloud streaming on the headset itself.
For players who use their Quest primarily as a gaming device rather than a pure VR headset, the addition makes the subscription considerably more attractive. The 10 hours of cloud gaming access per month are specifically designed for use on the Quest, letting subscribers stream Game Pass titles on a virtual big screen that can be extended up to 26 feet in size.
Meta is also planning to roll out Xbox controller emulation for Meta Quest Touch controllers in the coming weeks. Once available, players will be able to use their Touch controllers to replicate an Xbox gamepad layout, removing the need to pair a physical controller when streaming Game Pass titles through the headset.
What Does This Game Pass Starter Edition Bring?
The Starter Edition included with Meta Horizons+ gives subscribers access to more than 50 games drawn from the broader Game Pass library. Highlighted titles include "Fallout 4," "Fallout 76," "Grounded," "Overcooked 2," "DayZ," "Deep Rock Galactic," and "SnowRunner," covering a range of genres from open world RPGs to co-op shooters and truck simulators.
Beyond the game library, the Starter Edition includes cloud saves that carry progress across Xbox consoles, PC, and other supported devices. Online multiplayer is supported for cloud and PC play, and subscribers can also stream certain games they already own through the service.
Players also earn Xbox Rewards as they play, stacking points that can be put toward discounts and other benefits.
The Starter Edition is a smaller slice of what the full Game Pass Ultimate tier offers, but as a no-extra-cost addition to an existing subscription, it meaningfully expands what Meta Horizons+ members can access from day one.
