Microsoft is expected to close a gap in the Xbox Game Pass subscription options by offering a family plan.
The existing Game Pass subscription tiers (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass) are all aimed at a single user paying a monthly fee for access. As Windows Central reports, Microsoft is now preparing to launch a Family Plan, which would allow up to five users to access the service managed through one subscription.
The major hold-up to introducing a family plan option was figuring out complexities such as royalty payment distribution and game licensing for an account which has multiple users. Windows Central says “trusted sources” confirmed those problems have now been worked out and we can expect a launch later this year.
It’s thought the new plan will use Microsoft’s existing Family Account system, which many Office 365 subscribers will be familiar with. And of course, while the subscription fee is expected to be considerably higher than the current $14.99 paid for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, it will also be considerably less than paying for five individual Ultimate subscriptions.
One question that remains is whether Microsoft intends to roll out a family plan just for Xbox, or if PC Game Pass will get the same treatment? Timing will also be key, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Microsoft selected a June launch to coincide with Sony’s re-launch of PlayStation Plus.
