EA May Have Played a Big Role in Xbox Game Pass Family Plan Cancellation, It's Claimed

Back in 2022, Microsoft quietly started testing something a lot of Xbox fans instantly loved the sound of: an Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family plan. The idea was simple; one subscription would let multiple users access Xbox Game Pass for a lower combined price, somewhat similar to how streaming services handle family accounts.

Xbox Game Pass family plan may have hit publisher resistance

The feature later expanded into more regions during 2023 testing phases, and honestly, it looked like Microsoft was getting ready for a wider rollout. Then suddenly, everything went quiet.

Toward the end of 2023, Phil Spencer confirmed the plan had effectively been put on pause. At the time, he explained that Xbox still had a roadmap for the feature. However, the company needed to figure out a version that worked properly for both players and game creators.

Now, a fresh report from Windows Central’s Jez Corden has shed some light on what may have happened behind the scenes. According to Corden, the cancellation or delay reportedly “wasn’t actually Microsoft’s fault.” Rather, he claims Electronic Arts (EA) strongly pushed back against the idea internally. As per the report, EA “fully hated the idea” of a Game Pass family-sharing system.

That does not necessarily mean EA alone killed the feature. Realistically, multiple publishers may have had concerns about revenue sharing, licensing, or how family-based access could impact player spending across major titles.

Well, the demand for the feature clearly never disappeared. In the latest “XBOX Player Voice” feedback hub, one of the most-requested features from fans turned out to be a Game Pass Family Plan once again. Needless to say, the demand to bring back exclusives is still at the top. Given how XBOX is being reshaped under the leadership of new CEO Asha Sharma, it’s entirely possible that she may revisit the idea yet again.