Microsoft‘s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price increase hits families hardest
As Microsoft announces another price hike for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions, many families are left wondering why the company still hasn’t delivered the one feature that would actually justify paying more: a proper family sharing plan. With the new pricing making subscriptions even more expensive, the absence of family-friendly options feels particularly glaring in 2025.
The current sharing limitations
While it’s technically possible to share a Game Pass Ultimate subscription within a household, the current system comes with significant restrictions that make it impractical for most families. Only one person can play a Game Pass title at a time, meaning if one family member wants to play Forza Horizon 5 while another wants to dive into Black Ops 6, someone gets left out completely.
The sharing functionality is further limited by only allowing two accounts to access the library, and only when using an Xbox designated as the home console. For families with multiple children, multiple consoles, PCs, or handheld devices, managing a single subscription becomes what many describe as a “logistical nightmare.”
What a real family plan could offer
A proper family plan would work similarly to Apple’s ecosystem approach, allowing users to create a family group where all approved accounts could independently access Game Pass games. This would enable multiple family members to play different games simultaneously, or even play together – something currently impossible without purchasing additional game copies.
As noted in coverage from imdcontrols.com, this isn’t just a theoretical request. Microsoft actually tested a “Friends and Family” plan back in 2022, though the pilot program was limited to Ireland and Colombia before disappearing entirely. The existence of that test proves the company has at least considered the concept, making its continued absence even more frustrating for subscribers.
Microsoft’s position on family plans
When questioned about family plan possibilities in late 2023, Xbox head Phil Spencer acknowledged the company had been testing options but emphasized the need to balance value for both players and content creators. He explained that Game Pass success depends heavily on partner content, requiring a “win-win” proposition for all parties involved.
Nearly two years later, subscribers are seeing price increases and increasingly complex tier systems rather than the family-friendly features many have been requesting. For families facing higher subscription costs, the continued absence of proper sharing options makes the value proposition increasingly difficult to justify.
Why this matters beyond just pricing
The family plan issue represents more than just a missing feature – it highlights a disconnect between Microsoft’s “everything is an Xbox” marketing and the practical reality for households trying to share gaming experiences. As subscription costs rise, families are left with limited options: either pay for multiple individual subscriptions or navigate the cumbersome current sharing restrictions.
With gaming becoming increasingly family-oriented and Microsoft pushing broader ecosystem integration, the continued absence of a proper family plan feels like a missed opportunity to build loyalty among household subscribers who represent some of the service’s most valuable potential customers.
