Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s Netflix-esque video game subscription service, is reportedly adding a new tier: a family plan. As of right now, there are four tiers: Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Game Pass for Console, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Xbox Live Gold is $9.99 a month and includes the following: 2 free games every month, Xbox Live account, and 50% discount deals on select titles. Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC Game Pass are almost identical, with both costing $9.99 a month; a library of over 100 games with frequent, new additions; Xbox Game Studio titles available the same day as release; and exclusive member discounts and deals. The only difference between console and PC Game Pass is that PC Game Pass includes EA Play membership. Lastly, for $14.99 per month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate combines Xbox Live with PC and console Xbox Game Pass, in addition with some free perks, namely in-game content and partner offers.
Now, according to an exclusive from Windows Central, Microsoft is moving ahead with plans of creating a family plan. Much like Disney+, Netflix, and Nintendo’s family plans, Microsoft is aiming to allow central account holders to share access to the same content to others for a larger monthly fee. According to Windows Central’s sources within Microsoft, “paying on a higher tier for an Xbox Game Pass Family Plan will net access for five players for games across the entire library, and will be far cheaper than paying for five separate Xbox Game Pass accounts as is necessary today.”
However, some details surrounding the Xbox Game Pass family plan remain murky. Specifically, questions arise around if there will be a separate console and PC family plan, or a general, all-encompassing family plan like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Compounding upon this issue, there is no known date of when Microsoft will release information about the rumored Xbox Game Pass family plan. Windows Central states, “We’re not sure exactly when all of this will be announced, but it does seem as though Microsoft is readying up to make this public in the relatively near future.”