Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family plan ending in August

Microsoft is ending its Xbox Game Pass Friends and Family Plan which had allowed its members to share benefits with up to four other friends or family members.

Microsoft spokesperson confirmed with EuroGamer that the Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family plan will end on August 15. The plan had already been expanded to eight countries but now the company doesn't state if the plan will enter more markets or if Microsoft will tweak the formula or pricing into something different.

"The Friends & Family preview was announced in August of 2022 with the intent to learn more about how to shape new Game Pass offerings. We look forward to using those learnings to help create an offer we can bring to more players worldwide in the future," the company said.

Microsoft launched the program without calling it a 'preview' but just mentioned in the FAQ at the time that it was piloting it in certain countries first.

Existing Game Pass Members will receive Xbox Game Pass Ultimate codes “as a thank you for participating” in Microsoft’s preview. Primary and secondary members will get codes, Xbox article said.

The announcement comes just days after Microsoft bumped up its Microsoft Game Pass monthly prices.