So, I'm going to lay out how I think this Meta/Microsoft VR partnership will work.
First, it's really interesting that I have said for the past couple years, that 2 things need to happen, for a full VR partnership to move forward between Meta and Xbox. 1) Gamepass needs to come to Quest. 2) an official WiFi 6 USB WiFi dongle needs to come out. This month, we somehow got BOTH of these things! AirBridge was released last week, from D-Link, with an exclusive Meta partnership. Very on-the-nose!
Those 2 things above complete the hardware/software pairing pipeline! Some people seem to be confused by the Cloud Gaming announcement, but I'm mostly sure that this isn't that! This will work much more like the remote play feature, except exclusively at short range. The AirBridge comes with a dock, so you can place it on your entertainment center, and don't have to have it sticking out of the USB input. When I saw that dock, it backed up my suspicion of what this is REALLY for!
I don't doubt that they could sell an official Xbox branded one, as well. Already almost has the look.
Now, the difficult part of this for me to figure out, is how does Meta and Xbox handle the game software. Will there be a Meta store inside Gamepass, or even just on the dashboard, or is it a hybrid store, or just Microsoft-only on both? I don't know the answer to this. It could be as simple as MSFT launching Minecraft on Meta's platform, and Meta lets MSFT keep Gamepass on there, as well. Likewise, Xbox will be a premium place for Meta Horizon.
When will actual Xbox VR launch? Well, that depends on how much content they can have ready by PSVR2 launch, next year! My gut tells me that they won't launch without Halo, and you already know I'm convinced that they didn't hire the guy that was making MCC into VR for any other reason but to make Halo VR! Flight Simulator ALREADY has the VR code in the Xbox version, right on Gamepass. I think Skyrim remaster is an absolute GIVEN! Hellblade has a VR option on PC, so wondering if the followup is being designed with VR, as well. A FH5 VR patch would absolutely SLAP, as well. Not sure how long that would take, or how long they have been looking into a VR mode. What's interesting with the Gamepass business model and VR, is they don't have to sell you a whole new game for VR to work. You could just play Skyrim or Forza in VR, as a mode, if they want to go that route. They sold you Gamepass, and they don't have to make and sell the VR hardware. Just keep you renewing Gamepass. I know that some ppl here don't like Gamepass, but I do keep thinking that they will make VR capability a part of that service.
OK, that's enough for now!