Microsoft confirmed that it's been testing a new Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family plan back in August 2022, but since then, the company hasn't given fans an official release date to look forward to. Based on a new advertisement that's been spotted, though, it looks like Microsoft could be gearing up to launch the new Game Pass tier soon.
On Twitter, Xbox player Jawmuncher shared a screenshot of an ad for the Game Pass Friends & Family plan that appeared on their console's homepage, with many New Zealand-based fans reporting that the advertisement is visible on their Xbox Dashboards as well. The ad states that the price of the plan will be $39.95/month, which may be in either NZD or USD; if this is the New Zealand Dollar price, the USD equivalent would be about $25. By subscribing, players will be able to share the full benefits of an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription with four other accounts (five total). That means full access to Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for a fraction of what it would cost to purchase five individual Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions.
Note that accounts outside of your home are eligible to be included in your Friends & Family plan, meaning that the tier will be an attractive option for both households and groups of long-distance friends and family members alike. It's possible your account will need to be registered in the same country as the ones you're sharing Game Pass with, but right now, it's unclear if that's the case or not. All we know is that it was when Microsoft was testing Game Pass Friends & Family in 2022.
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Each account attached to the plan can be used to play games at the same time, and each will also get individual gamertags, game history, achievements, and cloud saves. Essentially, it sounds like there are no restrictions here, which is great news for folks looking to get their buddies or loved ones into gaming with the new plan.
We haven't spotted the Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family plan on our own Xbox systems, Xbox PC apps, or Microsoft's Xbox website, so it looks like it's not available yet and the ad that Jawmuncher spotted was erroneous. Still, this could be indicative of an imminent launch, so keep your eyes peeled if this plan interests you. Alternatively, there's always a regular Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription if you're gaming solo.
Notably, this news comes days after Microsoft killed off its amazing $1 Xbox Game Pass promo deal. This makes Friends & Family the only remaining way beyond limited-time discounts to get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate access for a reduced price per account.
Today's best Xbox Game Pass deals
Xbox Game Pass...Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 1 Month Subscription - Digital Download
(opens in new tab)1 Month Xbox Game...1 Month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Xbox One / PC
(opens in new tab)Xbox Game Pass...Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 1 Month Subscription
(opens in new tab)Xbox Game Pass...Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 1 Month
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