We live an extremely active week in terms of announcements from Microsoft in relation to its gaming division. However, until now we have been missing something specifically related to Xbox Game Pass, its successful video game subscription service that has brought about a real revolution in terms of access to all kinds of titles, from gigantic triple A to indie developments that have led to surprises in the market.

Although the subscription model is not a model for everyone, as there are many players who prefer to acquire games and own them forever, there are (actually we are, myself included) many who prefer to have access to a large catalog for a modest monthly fee , being able to explore many titles and if I find one that I want to have permanently, wait for a sale or special offer and get it from one of the digital stores.

Microsoft hit the nail on the head with this model their number can increase even more with friends and family subscriptions to Xbox Game Pass (Friends & Family), which, as we told you back then, Microsoft started testing in Colombia and Ireland in September last year. The first phase of the test of this subscription model, about which we have had no other news so far, which made us doubt whether it will eventually remain in the plans of those from Redmond.

The good news is that since then the doubts about it are gone Xbox Game Pass Friends and Family has expanded to six more countries (Unfortunately not Spain yet). The lucky countries are Chile, Hungary, Israel, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden, indicating that Micrsooft is aiming for a global rollout of this new Xbox Game Pass subscription modality, albeit gradually.

Recall that on his debut in Ireland the price of the monthly flat-rate family tariff is 21.99 euroscompared to 12.99 euros per month for an individual Xbox Game Pass Ultime subscription and that in the Friends & Family plan up to five accounts that can share it will have the same level, the highest of those offered by the platform. I.e the final cost per user per month is 4.40 euros that yes, they are not charged individually to each user.

Just in these weeks when we’re dealing with the Netflix shared account hack, I think it’s especially important to remember one of the frequently asked questions about this subscription tier:

• Ask: «I am the primary account holder. Who do you think I should invite to my group?«.
• Reply: «Do you live in a household where people like to play games simultaneously on multiple devices? Do you have friends and family who love to play and love 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 and Family membership may be the best option for you and those you play with.«

The only term that characterizes the service in this regard is the people who share the subscription must be resident in the same country but specifically stated not at the same addresswhich explains why they are not just a plan for family but also for friends.

This international expansion of Xbox Game Pass Friends and Family is therefore good news, as it confirms that Microsoft is continuing this very interesting subscription model, and that we can therefore expect its next arrival here too. Let’s hope so, sooner rather than later.

So in just two days we learned about plans to bring Call of Duty to the Nintendo Switch, that its PC games will reach GeForce Now, this morning we saw another very smart move in which, with figures in hand, the company confirmed that the market leadership belongs to Sony and now with extending the most advantageous subscription model of its gaming platform. As I said at the beginning, a truly memorable week.