The Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family plan has officially launched, and while it has limited availability, it certainly comes at an attractive price.
With the Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family plan, you and four other people can access all the benefits of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for a monthly cost of €21,99, or approximately €21,99 / €19,99 / €32. , AU$99. Previously only available to Xbox Insiders, but the official launch means more players can now sign up.
Unfortunately, the service is currently only available in the Republic of Ireland and Colombia. Microsoft says (opens in a new tab) that future countries and regions "may be added in the coming months."
The best part? Subscribing to the Ultimate tier means friends or family won't even need an Xbox Series X|S console to benefit. The inclusion of Xbox Cloud Gaming means you can enjoy everything Game Pass has to offer on a Samsung Gaming Hub-enabled smartphone, laptop, or smart TV.
However, there are some limitations to be aware of. Players on your Friends & Family plan must live in the same country or region, and only the primary account holder can decide who can join the group. If a user changes country or region, they will automatically be removed from the group.
everything is in the family
Yes, the Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family plan costs more than a standard Ultimate subscription, but I think the benefits outweigh the increased cost here. Especially if you get the most out of it with five players who will use it frequently.
Having up to five people under the Game Pass umbrella is beneficial in a number of ways. Above all, I think it's a great way to host multiplayer nights with friends and family. Everyone on the plane has access to the same games, making impromptu adventures in Forza Horizon 5 or Sea of Thieves a breeze.
While Xbox isn't the first to show up at the family party - Nintendo Switch Online offers an equally affordable family plan for up to eight users - its ecosystem is probably better positioned to use the format. If only for the many games and benefits that Xbox Game Pass offers.