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Xbox Game Pass, or PC Game Pass for non-console players, is arguably one of the best video game subscription services in the market in terms of pricing, catalog, and available perks. But it lacks one crucial membership offer -- a Family Plan. A new report, however, suggests that could change in the coming months.
Microsoft is moving forward with its plans of adding a Family Plan for the Xbox and PC Game Pass services, Windows Central reported. The publication cited “trusted sources,” who said the new membership tier could launch sometime in 2022.
The rumored Xbox Game Pass Family Plan will reportedly allow up to five players to use the entire games library through one subscription. Pricing details are still under wraps, though. But the report noted that the Family Plan pricing would be “far cheaper” than paying for five individual memberships. The Xbox and PC Game Pass costs $9.99 per month, while the Game Pass Ultimate (with access to xCloud, Xbox Live Gold, and EA Play) is available at $14.99 per month.
The same report also mentioned that the company would leverage the Microsoft Family Account system that is currently available to Office 365 users. That means the five members of a Family Plan would have to be in the same country to use the anticipated Xbox Game Pass Family Plan.
Other details are still unknown, especially how Microsoft plans on implementing a shared subscription among five family members. Companies that offer group plans typically allow every member to have their individual profiles, while the main account can manage who will be added to the subscription.
Windows Central said Microsoft had been working on adding a Family Plan to the Xbox Game Pass for some time now. However, the company had to hash out some details like how a shared subscription would affect the distribution of royalties and compensation to third-party developers and publishers.
The news of an upcoming Xbox Game Pass Family Plan comes shortly after Sony announced the “all-new PlayStation Plus.” The new subscription service for PlayStation fans is available in three membership tiers, and two of them essentially combine the features of PS Plus and PS Now.
Photo by Louis-Philippe Poitras on Unsplash
