Microsoft has announced the expansion of its Xbox Game Pass family plan to six more countries. Residents in Chile, Hungary, Israel, New Zealand, South Africa, and Sweden can now sign up for the membership, which allows up to five friends and family members in the same country to access Game Pass Ultimate features via a single subscription. This is the first expansion of the Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family plan, which Microsoft initially launched in Colombia and Ireland last summer.
There are several things to note for those interested in the plan, which offers access to a vast library of hundreds of PC, console, and cloud games, among other benefits. The primary account holder will be able to convert their existing plan based on the monetary value of the time remaining. For example, a full month of an Ultimate subscription equates to 18 days of Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family access. However, people who are invited to join a group cannot convert their remaining Game Pass time, and those with an Xbox All Access payment plan cannot join a friends and family group.
Pricing for the plan varies by country, but a regular Game Pass Ultimate subscription costs about three-fifths as much as the family plan. Based on US Game Pass Ultimate pricing, the family plan costs around $25 per month, which can be split between five people, equating to just $5 per month per person for Game Pass Ultimate access. This is roughly the same price as a single full game purchase per person per year.
While the Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family plan is not yet available in North America, the UK, or other regions more broadly, Microsoft’s interest in expanding its reach is evident. The company aims to get as many people as possible to sign up for Game Pass in one way or another, so it is likely that the plan will eventually be available in more territories.
