We are living an especially active week in terms of announcements, by Microsoft, in relation to its games division. However, until now we were missing one related specifically to Xbox Game Pass, its successful video game subscription service, which has brought about a true revolution in terms of access to all kinds of titles, from gigantic triple A to indie developments that have meant a surprise in the market.
Although the subscription model is not a model for everyone, since there are many players who prefer to acquire the games and maintain ownership over them in perpetuity, there are (we are, in fact, since I include myself among them) many who prefer , for a modest monthly fee, have access to a large catalogue, be able to explore many titles and, if I find one that I do want to have permanently, wait for sales or a special offer to get it in one of the digital stores.
Microsoft has hit the mark, therefore, with this model, and their numbers can grow even bigger with the Xbox Game Pass friends and family subscription (Friends & Family) that, as we already told you at the time, Microsoft began testing in Colombia and Ireland in September of last year. A first phase of the test of this subscription model of which until now we had not had any more news, which made us doubt whether it would finally remain in the plans of those from Redmond.
Well, the good news is that doubts about it are over, since Xbox Game Pass Friends and Family has expanded to six more countries (Spain not yet, unfortunately). The lucky countries are Chile, Hungary, Israel, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden, which does indicate that Micrsooft is aiming for a global deployment, albeit gradually, of this new Xbox Game Pass subscription modality.
Let’s remember that, in his debut in Ireland, the price of the monthly fee of the family plan is 21.99 euros, compared to 12.99 euros per month for the individual subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultime, and that in the Friends & Family plan the up to five accounts that can share it will have the same level, the highest of those offered by the platform. That is the final cost per user and month is 4.40 euros that, yes, they are not billed individually to each user.
Precisely in these weeks, in which we are going around with Netflix’s hack to shared accounts, it seems especially important to me to remember one of the points of the frequently asked questions about this level of subscription:
- Ask: «I am the primary account holder. Who do you think I should invite to join my group?«.
- Answer: «Do you live in a household where people like to play games at the same time on multiple devices? Do you have friends and family who love to play and like to play with you, but they don’t live with you? Want to play a game from the Game Pass catalog with people who don’t have an Xbox, but would be willing to play using cloud gaming? Sharing a Friends & Family membership may be the best option for you and those you play with.«
Indeed, the only condition that marks the service in this regard is that the people who share the subscription they must reside in the same country, but it is explicitly clarified that not at the same addresswhich explains why they are not only a plan for family, but also for friends.
So, this international expansion of Xbox Game Pass Friends and Family is good news, as it confirms that Microsoft is continuing with this very interesting subscription model, and that therefore we can expect its next arrival in our country. Let’s hope, yes, that it will be sooner rather than later.
Thus, in just two days we have learned of the plans to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo Switch, that its PC games will reach GeForce Now, this morning we have experienced another very intelligent movement, in which with figures in hand the company has confirmed that the market leadership belongs to Sony, and now with the expansion of the most advantageous subscription model of its gaming platform. As I said at the beginning, a truly memorable week.
