Xbox fans have been asking for a Game Pass family subscription for years. Microsoft even tested the idea before, but the project suddenly disappeared without much explanation. Now, a new report may finally explain what happened behind the scenes.
According to Windows Central journalist Jez Corden, Electronic Arts strongly pushed against the Game Pass Friends and Family plan. The feature would have allowed up to five people in the same country to share a single subscription, which would have given families and groups of friends a much cheaper way to access the service.
Corden claims EA “fully hated the idea” of a shared subscription plan. Since EA Play is already closely tied to Game Pass Ultimate through long-term deals with Xbox, EA reportedly had enough influence to create strong opposition during the discussions. The main issue was likely tied to revenue. A family plan could have allowed several users to access EA’s library, especially its sports franchises, through one cheaper shared subscription instead of multiple separate accounts.
It’s worth noting that Microsoft originally tested the service in countries such as Ireland and Colombia between 2022 and 2023. At the time, many people expected the plan to expand to other regions, but that never happened. Back in 2023, former Xbox CEO Phil Spencer said that the family plan was only paused, explaining that the company was trying to find the right balance for both players and publishers. However, according to this latest report, the project has now been canceled.
While many fans had forgotten about this plan, Xbox recently introduced a player feedback website called “Player Voice,” where fans can vote on features they want added to the platform, and this brought the discussion back again. One of the most requested ideas is still the return of the Game Pass family tier, along with exclusives.
In other news, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has publicly invited former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden to “chat sometime” after he shared a “grim prognosis” for the Xbox Game Pass model.
