Xbox is trying out a Game Pass Ultimate family plan

Xbox Insiders in Colombia and Ireland can test the Game Pass Ultimate group membership

Microsoft has begun testing a new family plan option for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, and I’m hopeful that it rolls out to the rest of the world sooner than later. Xbox Insiders in Colombia and Ireland can add up to four people to their subscription.

“This makes it even easier to play the best Game Pass games with friends and family across console, PC, and cloud by enabling you to add up to four people to your subscription, all with their own unique access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate games, content, and benefits,” said Sr. Technical Program Manager Tyler Mittleider.

There are a few caveats to keep in mind for the test run, as detailed on the Xbox Wire blog.

Xbox Game Pass – Insider Preview details

With the current framework, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can convert their subscription time to the family plan “based upon the monetary value of the old membership.” One “full month of Ultimate” comes out to “18 days” of the group plan.

Unofficially, going off those numbers, that could suggest a $25-per-month ballpark for the family plan, which would end up being reasonable if split up among other members. As is, the normal price for a single Xbox Game Pass Ultimate user is $14.99 per month.

This lead-user-to-group-subscription conversion is “final, and users must wait for their new membership to expire before returning to a previous membership.”

That said, the rest of the Game Pass group — the invitees — can’t do this same time conversion. “Before joining a group, a group member can cancel their existing subscription or wait for it to expire. 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.”

Everything’s subject to change (it is a test, after all), but I hope it moves forward worldwide. It can be an exhausting subscription-filled hellscape out there, so being able to share with friends and family — and potentially save — will be much appreciated.

If you’re interested in this Xbox Insider test, consult this article for the known issues. Microsoft has not committed to a full release or a test in other regions, so we’ll see.