Family gaming on Xbox: the current system and the improvements players are asking for

Does Xbox need a real family plan to share games and Game Pass?

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There’s an ongoing debate that still sparks a lot of interest today, posing a question that has been circulating among Xbox players for years: should there be a more comprehensive family sharing option, similar to Steam, Nintendo, or even Apple and Google? The comment that sparked the discussion stems from a common complaint: many users avoid buying digital games because they can’t share them freely within their household.

Although Xbox has been offering its “primary console” system for some time (which allows two consoles to share games, licenses, and access to Game Pass), the general feeling is that this method works, but it’s still a limited workaround that doesn’t meet the needs of all families or groups that play together. This is why the idea of a more complete and official family plan keeps resurfacing.

What players are asking for and how Xbox responds today

The message that sparked the discussion is quite simple: a family system that works like other platforms. On Steam and Nintendo, for example, a single license can be shared with multiple members, although only one can play at a time. Apple and Google go further, allowing multiple users to play at the same time with a single purchase, something that many consider beneficial for the consumer, although less sustainable for publishers.

Xbox, on the other hand, allows sharing between two consoles through the “primary console” system, but it doesn’t go beyond that. For some players, this is enough, but for others, the limitation falls short. What many are asking for is a native option within the Microsoft family account that allows assigning licenses or sharing Game Pass more directly between multiple profiles, without relying on workarounds or cross-configurations.

Main differences between what players are asking for and Xbox’s current system

An interesting nuance also arises: some users recall that on PC, it’s possible to use Game Pass on multiple devices by signing in with the subscription owner on one application and playing from the personal Gamertag on another. A flexibility that contrasts with the more rigid console system.

In any case, the debate reflects an evident reality: players want more comfortable and transparent options. With the next Xbox expected to arrive in 2026 or 2027, many believe that a modern family system would be a natural step to strengthen the ecosystem and give more value to digital purchases. For now, all that’s left is to wait and see if Microsoft decides to take the next step.