Tech giant Microsoft has started testing a new Xbox Game Pass plan that will allow multiple people, including friends and family, to share Game Pass Ultimate benefits.
Tech giant Microsoft has started testing a new Xbox Game Pass plan to allow multiple people, including friends and family, to share Game Pass Ultimate benefits.
The company said that a preview of this Xbox Game Pass family plan is now available in Colombia and Ireland.
“We are always looking for ways to deliver experiences that offer players more choice and value in how they discover and experience games with their community,” the company said in a blog post.
“Starting today in Colombia and Ireland, Xbox Insiders can begin to preview a plan that allows multiple people to share Game Pass Ultimate benefits,” it added.
In this plan, the testers can add up to four people to their subscription as long as they are in the same country.
“The people you share your membership with do not have to be Insiders but must reside in the same country as you. Enrollment is limited and will remain open while the offer is available,” the company said.
According to Microsoft, a group member can cancel their existing subscription or wait for it to expire before joining a group.
If they do not have a Microsoft account, invited friends and family will have to create a new Microsoft account and sign in with it to participate.
Members with Xbox All Access won’t be able to participate in this preview.
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Subscribing to the family plan with a group of buddies will net you hefty monthly savings. Microsoft hasn’t revealed the exact pricing structure yet, but existing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to convert their membership into the new tier. A one-month subscription to Ultimate will translate into 18 days of family plan membership.
Even if you’re only sharing the plan with one other person, you’ll save a few dollars or pounds each month. With four others to split the bill between, the individual monthly cost drops dramatically.
Those prices aren’t final but should indicate what we can expect from the new service. On top of that, members will still be able to take advantage of the Xbox Live Gold upgrade trick to bag an even more significant discount.
Microsoft said that users who subscribe to Game Pass this way can still convert to the family plan. Bear in mind, however, that the conversion is final. For now, you’ll have to wait for your family plan membership to expire if you want to return to a previous tier.
If you’re a resident of Ireland or Colombia and want to take part in the preview, head to the Microsoft Store (which opens in a new tab) and purchase the ‘Xbox Game Pass – Insider Preview’ subscription plan. Once you’re signed up, you’ll be able to invite others to join the plan from your Microsoft Account page.