Microsoft is jacking up the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions, but STILL not delivering the one thing people would pay more to have

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I’d gladly pay extra for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, but definitely not for the Fortnite Crew subscription.

As a researcher following the gaming landscape, it’s interesting to see how Microsoft is positioning Xbox in 2025 – really trying to make it *the* platform for all things gaming. However, despite this ‘everything is an Xbox’ push, a surprisingly basic need remains unmet: a simple, family-friendly way to share a Game Pass subscription with kids. It feels like a significant oversight, considering how much they’re focusing on accessibility.

I currently share my Game Pass Ultimate with my son, but the limitations are pretty significant. With the price increasing to £8 a month in the UK, there’s no way I’m getting him a separate subscription – not right now, anyway.

Microsoft likely hopes for a certain outcome, but I don’t think they’ll achieve it, and many others agree. There’s a lot of demand for family plan options, and I’m one of those who wants one.

My biggest issue with Xbox Game Pass right now, even with the recent price and benefit adjustments, is the lack of a family plan. There’s been no indication one will be offered, and frankly, I wouldn’t mind paying more if it included a way for families to share the service.

Instead, we get some Fortnite stuff. So, yay for that, I guess.

Xbox tested a Game Pass family plan, and then swept it aside

Xbox Game Pass once tested a family plan called Friends and Family. While it was only available in Ireland and Colombia, its existence suggested that a wider family sharing option might be possible.

This happened in 2022. It was always intended as a trial version of the service, but it was unexpectedly discontinued. The trial period ended, and the project appeared to be abandoned.

Last December, my colleague Jez Corden spoke with Phil Spencer and asked about the possibility of a family plan.

Spencer said:

We have a plan for the Xbox Family Plan, and we launched it to gather information and see how it performs. It’s crucial to remember that the success of Game Pass largely depends on the games from our partners. While we do release our own first-party games on the same day as their launch, we also need to ensure the service is beneficial for creators who want to offer their games on Xbox Game Pass. That’s why we’re running tests, analyzing the results, and sharing that data with our partners.

We’re focused on creating a system that benefits both game creators and players – a win-win situation. Game Pass is currently structured to do just that, and we’re always exploring new ways to offer even more value to our customers while ensuring it remains a strong platform for creators.

It’s been nearly two years since that interview, and while prices have gone up and the new subscription options are confusing, we still don’t have a family plan.

Why we even need an Xbox Game Pass family plan

You might be asking why we’re pushing for this change. It’s true you can currently share your subscription with family, but we believe this is still an important issue to address.

That’s right, and I do this with my son. We’ve designated his Xbox Series S as our family’s main console, which lets him share the perks of my Xbox subscription. I can also use that same subscription on my Xbox Series X and PC.

However, there’s a big restriction. Only one of us can play a Game Pass game at any given moment. So, if my friend wants to play Forza Horizon 5 and I want to play Black Ops 6, one of us will have to miss out.

Library access can be shared with only two accounts, and it must be done on the Xbox set as your home console.

I only have one child who uses my Xbox Game Pass subscription, but it’s much harder for families with more kids. Managing a single subscription across several consoles, PCs, or handheld devices can be really complicated.

A family plan would be really helpful here, similar to what Apple offers with its services. It would allow you to create a group of approved accounts – family or friends – and everyone could play Game Pass games whenever they want, even together! Currently, if I’m away from home, I can’t play a game like Forza Horizon 5 with my son unless I purchase another copy.

It’s understandable that this isn’t straightforward. Developers rightfully want to be compensated for their work. Adding more complexities also makes it harder to predict how much benefit they’ll get from having their games on Game Pass.

As a long-time Game Pass fan, it’s really frustrating. They first started talking about this feature three years ago, then said it was planned for another two years… and still nothing! And now, even after raising the price of Game Pass Ultimate by 50%, we’re still waiting. It feels like it might never actually happen, honestly.

The recent marketing video for the Game Pass updates claimed they were responding to player feedback, but it’s hard to believe. Many Xbox users have been requesting a family plan for years, so it’s confusing why that hasn’t been addressed.

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2025-10-02 17:40