starter edition xbox game pass Expanded to more players with new partnerships available with qualifying Meta Horizon+ memberships. Xbox Game Pass has been changing its subscription service and pricing recently as the company's new management restructures its business.
Microsoft first launched Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition in May 2026 in partnership with Discord Nitro. Designed to lower the barrier to entry to Xbox Game Pass, eligible Nitro subscribers could link their Xbox account and access a basic version of the game subscription service that featured only a portion of the large Game Pass library, no online play, and limited cloud streaming time. This starter tier is considered the gateway to the Xbox ecosystem and has so far only been available through partnerships with other subscription services.
Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition adds another subscription method
On July 21, 2026, Microsoft and Meta announced via Xbox Wire that the Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition is now available to Meta Horizon+ subscribers, offering over 50 games and over 10 hours of cloud gaming each month. Current libraries available to subscribers include: fallout 4, fallout 76, grounded, Days, Deep Rock GalacticDownload it all for unlimited local play on supported hardware. Players who link their Xbox to the appropriate Meta account can use the Starter Edition on console, PC, and Meta Quest headsets, and progress will carry over from platform to platform. Now offering 50+ curated games in a Meta Horizon+ subscription that includes over 100 games, the Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition gives Meta Quest owners access to over 150 games for just $7.99 per month, less than Discord Nitro's $9.99 per month bundle.
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Rearranges covers into correct US release order.
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Users can now access Game Pass Starter Edition on Meta devices through the free Xbox app in the Horizon Store, with more features to come. Microsoft and Meta have a long-standing partnership centered around the Quest platform, and Xbox controllers are already available through Meta's official accessory store. Meta plans to introduce a gamepad emulator in the coming weeks that maps current Quest Touch controller inputs to Xbox controls, reducing the need for additional gamepads and getting fans up and running with the Xbox Game Pass library faster.
A new subscription partnership between Microsoft and Meta extends Game Pass to VR enthusiasts but those who don't yet have an Xbox console and are curious about the service. VR gaming overall is still a niche market, but reaching that audience only supports Microsoft's broader efforts to make Xbox games available across multiple devices. This agreement also provides a significant advantage to Meta, as it demonstrates that there is much more value to a Horizon+ membership beyond the basic VR software.
Players should be aware that the service has some limitations. Access to Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition through Meta Horizon+ is dependent on region, device compatibility, and Microsoft account, which is minor but can still be a barrier to entry. The value of this new bundle will largely depend on whether Horizon+ subscribers own additional gaming devices to enjoy the full benefits of the service. Still, placing the Game Pass Starter Edition within existing memberships like Discord Nitro and Meta Horizon+ could allow Xbox to reach a new audience without immediately asking them to purchase another full subscription, and could potentially encourage some users to upgrade later.
