Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family Plan to end preview in August

2 min. read

Published onJuly 17, 2023

published onJuly 17, 2023

Share this article

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Microsoft has announced that it is ending the Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family Plan. The planrolled out last September in soft launchthat was later expanded to a total of eight countries: Ireland, Colombia, New Zealand, Sweden, Israel, Chile, Hungary, and South Africa.

The Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family Plan allowed users to add up to five people under one account, at a discounted price compared to that of five separate memberships. For a time it was widely speculated that the plan would eventually come to other markets including the U.S., but that never materialized. The plan will be discontinued on August 15.

As a Microsoft spokesperson toldEurogamer,

We’re excited about how the Friends and Family plan has resonated with gamers and will be evaluating the learnings to help create an offer that we can bring to more players worldwide in the future.

There was no word on whether we’ll see anything more of Game Pass Friends & Family in its current form or perhaps another. Current members will get an Xbox Game Pass offer as a thank you for participating. The spokesperson said this was also “a way to ensure they can continue to play the games they love after the preview ends.”

Interestingly, the Friends & Family Plan was never referred to as a preview until this announcement. Instead, it was stated that the plan was being piloted in select countries.

The discontinuation of Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family comes as Microsoft announcesa price increase for the Game Pass console and Ultimate tiers. This in addition to the recent announcement that Xbox Live Gold would be evolved intoXbox Game Pass Corebeginning in September.

Featured image via Digital Spy.

Robert Collins

User forum

0 messages

Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes

Comment*

Name*

Email*

Commenting as.Not you?

Save information for future comments

Comment

Robert Collins

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family Plan to end preview in August#

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier

Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family Plan to end preview in August