Microsoft has unveiled a new Xbox Game Pass tier that will allow families and groups to sign up at a deep discount.
An Xbox Game Pass family plan has been rumored for several months now, with Microsoft finally confirming the news in a test release. Xbox Insiders in Colombia and Ireland will be the first to try it. It allows up to five people to share Xbox Game Pass Ultimate benefits as long as they live in the same country.
All members of the shared plan will have “their own exclusive access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate games, content and benefits”, according to Microsoft (opens in new tab). Each subscriber can use the service simultaneously, allowing everyone to play a game of Back 4 Blood or Halo Infinite together, as well as play entirely different games at the same time.
Microsoft has not revealed when the new plan will officially launch or receive a global rollout.
Friends make for economic games
Subscribing to the family plan with a group of friends will earn you big monthly savings. Microsoft has yet to reveal the exact pricing structure, but existing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to convert their membership to the new tier. A one-month subscription to Ultimate translates to an 18-day family plan subscription. Given that Ultimate is usually $14.99 / £10.99 / AU$15.95, a little algebra tells us that a one-month family subscription is likely to cost around $24.99 / £18 / AU $26.50.
Even if you’re sharing the plan with just one other person, you’ll be saving yourself a few dollars or pounds a month. With four other people to split the bill, the individual monthly cost drops dramatically. These prices are not final, but should indicate what we can expect from the new service. Additionally, members will still be able to take advantage of the Xbox Live Gold upgrade trick to get an even bigger discount.
Microsoft said that users who subscribe to Game Pass in this way will still be able to convert to the family plan. Keep in mind, however, that the conversion is final. For now, you will have to wait for your family plan subscription to expire if you want to return to a previous level.
If you live in Ireland or Colombia and would like to participate in the preview, please go to the Microsoft Store (opens in new tab) and purchase the ‘Xbox Game Pass – Insider Preview’ subscription plan. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll be able to invite others to join the plan on your Microsoft account page.