Microsoft may have bigger plans behind the subscription model being tested in Ireland and Colombia.

We’ve already reported that in the two countries just mentioned. The Redmond-based company has started testing the idea of allowing more users to get a subscription in exchange for a more expensive monthly fee. However, the solution, which is effectively a “family plan”, seems to be available not only to family members. However, The Verge has reported some of the branding elements of Microsoft’s plans have been leaked and that as a result, friends, as well as family members, could benefit from the subscription.

The image below was taken from Twitter, courtesy of Aggiornamenti Lumia; we’ve learned that the expanded subscription could be called Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family. It would avoid complications when, for example, our neighbour uses our subscription because the name would expand the category of eligible users.

In Ireland, the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate family plan is €22 instead of €13. Still, it is for five people instead of one, so it could be a good deal for those who would be active users because it would cost €4.4 per person, making the Friends & Family plan a significantly cheaper and more efficient solution from Microsoft.

Of course, it’s not official yet what it will be called. Still, if five people get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Friends & Family, they will get online multiplayer, a console and PC games library and access to EA Play games for 22 euros; that would be a smart move from Microsoft and one that Sony should undoubtedly act on (as it was because of the “greens” that they had to redesign PlayStation Plus, which now has three categories, although we’re not sure if the most expensive category is worth it, as the PS1/PS2/PSP games list doesn’t seem to want to expand much).

Now we have to wait for the official announcement.

Source: VG247