Remember when virtual reality felt like a luxury reserved for early adopters with deep pockets? That reality just got turned upside down. On November 18, 2025, Meta dropped a bombshell that’s sending shockwaves through the VR community: the Quest 3S is available at Costco for just $200, and it includes a full year of Horizon+ subscription.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Price breakthrough: The Quest 3S costs just $199.99 at Costco
- Subscription bonus: Includes 12 months of Horizon+ worth $215
- Game library: Nearly 30 titles available in the catalog
- Historical context: First major console at this price since GameCube era
The Deal That Breaks VR’s Price Barrier
Let’s talk numbers for a moment. At $200, the Quest 3S isn’t just affordable—it’s suddenly competing with traditional gaming consoles on price. As Android Central reported, this represents the lowest price ever for a Meta Quest device with these capabilities.
What makes this particularly significant is the timing. We’re seeing VR transition from niche hobby to mainstream entertainment, and price has always been the biggest hurdle. At $300, the Quest 3S was already positioned as the budget option. But at $200 with a year of content included? That changes the entire equation.
What Horizon+ Actually Gets You
If you’re new to Meta’s ecosystem, Horizon+ might sound like just another subscription service. But here’s why it matters: you’re getting access to nearly 30 games without additional purchase costs. According to Dealmoon’s analysis, this subscription normally costs $215 annually when purchased separately.
For budget-conscious gamers, this eliminates the biggest pain point of new console ownership: the additional software costs. You’re not just buying hardware—you’re getting an entire year of entertainment included in that $200 price tag.
The library covers multiple genres, from fitness and rhythm games to immersive adventures and social experiences. It’s essentially Netflix for VR gaming, and having it bundled removes the decision paralysis that often comes with building a game collection from scratch.
The Bigger Picture for VR Adoption
This deal isn’t just about moving hardware units. It represents a strategic shift in how Meta is approaching market penetration. As one industry observer noted, “The last time I remember seeing a major console for $199 was back in the GameCube days!”
That comparison highlights how revolutionary this pricing really is. We’re talking about technology that was $400+ just a few years ago, now available at mass-market retailer prices. This could potentially double or triple the installed base of Quest devices almost overnight.
There are legitimate questions about whether this aggressive pricing signals a new product announcement coming soon. Sometimes companies clear inventory before launching upgraded models. But even if that’s the case, getting current-generation technology at this price point represents unprecedented value.
The bottom line:
Meta’s Quest 3S at Costco for $200 with 12 months of Horizon+ isn’t just another Black Friday deal—it’s a watershed moment for virtual reality accessibility. For the price of a Nintendo Switch game and accessories, you’re getting a complete VR system with a year of content. This could be the push that finally brings VR into millions of living rooms, making what was once cutting-edge technology suddenly as affordable as traditional gaming consoles.
If you’re interested in related developments, explore our articles on Why Lenovo’s New $200 Tablet Changes Everything for Budget Users and Why Google’s First Pixel 10 Discount Changes Everything for Budget Shoppers.
