In an era of myriad online subscription plans, Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass stands out amongst all the rest for its relative affordability and bang for the consumer's buck. The suite of video games provided on the service, often even including day one releases, allows players an unending doorway into innumerable experiences, yet has for the longest time lacked in its shareability.
Thursday, Aug. 4, all changes as Microsoft announced that Game Pass Ultimate subscribers would be getting a new Family Plan option to allow up to four others to enjoy the elongated list of games available on the service. The firm is first testing the Family Plan option in Ireland and Colombia starting today, according to Microsoft senior technical program manager Tyler Mittleider in an official blog post.
The option has long been rumored, specifically headed by Windows Central's Jez Corden, as subscribers typically liken the service to Netflix, despite password sharing not being viable. There are a total of three current subscription tiers for the service, the PC-only and Xbox console-only Game Pass option at $9.99, and Game Pass Ultimate at $14.99. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes access to games on both console and PC, as well as online multiplayer functionality and EA Play access.
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One note, however, is that the Family Plan access is only available for up to four other guests so long as they live in the same country, making it rather limited for those that may have family members living overseas. Still, despite the regional limitations, the Game Pass Ultimate Family Plan is a step in the right direction for allowing a full household easy access to a wide assortment of games.
For Xbox Game Pass subscribers living in Ireland and Colombia who want to try out this new Family Plan option, signing up is made simple via the Microsoft store. Purchasing the beta preview will opt these subscribers into a new plan that is "based upon the monetary value of the old membership." This is added evidence in the fact that the Family Plan will, in fact, be its own fourth tier of the service when it is officially released.
Some things to take note, however, are that parts of the preview have yet to be fully localized for Colombia, meaning some menus will be displayed in English. Xbox All Access members are not allowed to participate in the preview. For already existing Game Pass subscribers that are being invited from a Family Plan beta tester, they will have to cancel their existing plan, so the conversion works properly. Finally, membership sharing is, as mentioned previously, thus far only available for residents living in the same country.
Microsoft's new Family Plan Game Pass push comes at an interesting time wherein the mega streamer Netflix is tackling password sharing enforcement. Although different from Game Pass, PlayStation's own Plus subscription model, which recently had a heavy revamp, isn't exactly Family friendly. There isn't multiple console-wide sharing options so much as there is a one-console Family Sharing option, wherein the firm allows one user subscribed to PS Plus to set their console as the primary system in the household, allowing anyone else who signs in to use PS Plus through it.
Nintendo has a Nintendo Switch Online Family membership option, allowing a user to collect up to eight varied Nintendo accounts into one family group. However, Nintendo's family membership plan costs $34.99 a year and includes all of the same benefits as the upgraded plan, with additional free games, DLC, and more.
