Microsoft’s Xbox/PC Game Pass subscriptions are already very popular, but that doesn’t mean the Redmond giant isn’t adding new features all the time. The latest addition should come in handy for those with large families: a new plan that allows subscribers to add four extra people to their account. It’s also testing a widget as part of the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build.
Microsoft writes that it is now testing a pre-release version of the Game Pass shared access level in Colombia and Ireland, which is available only to Xbox insiders. A spokesperson said that each added member of the plan “will have their own unique access to Xbox GP Ultimate games, content and benefits,” although some parts of the package may change based on user feedback.
The new option will be more expensive than the current Game Pass Ultimate tier, which is $14.99 per month. Microsoft has never said exactly how much it will cost, but writes that users can exchange one month of Ultimate for an 18-day shared access plan, so the final price could be $25 to $30 a month, which is pretty good when five people use the same account.
No word yet on when Microsoft might make the Game Pass family plan (or whatever it’s eventually called) available for global rollout. The company has said it will have more information this year.
In related news, Microsoft said on its official Windows Insider blog that it’s testing a Game Pass widget for the 11 winnda among insiders on the Dev channel. The widget will show new games added to the service, titles about to be removed, and other games from selected categories. Clicking on the widget will take users directly to the Xbox app, where they can install games, check reviews, etc.
The widget feature, which is currently being worked on, will allow users to log into their Xbox account and quickly return to recently launched games. They can also see personalized recommendations. “A preview of the Game Pass widget is available in the list along with other widgets that bring you closer to weather forecasts, sports and other useful content,” Microsoft writes.