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Xbox Live Family Pack revealed

New pack will include four Xbox Live Gold memberships, access to the Family Centre, and activity monitoring report; launches November and costs £69 ($99).

A new Xbox Live Family Pack has been unveiled by Microsoft, costing £69 ($99). Set to launch this November, the pack will give families up to four-year-long Xbox Live Gold memberships on one console, maintained by a single master account. The master account holder will be able to purchase and dispense Microsoft points to other Family Pack members, change parental settings, and view activity monitoring reports showing how much time has been spent playing games on each account.

Soon the whole family will be able to get involved with these cute little guys on the cheap.

Soon the whole family will be able to get involved with these cute little guys on the cheap.

The billing system has also been simplified for Family Pack customers, with all purchases charged to the single master account. Parents will be able to keep tabs on the family’s spending by requiring purchases from family members to be authorised by the master account before they are complete. All the settings will be controllable in one place under the new Family Centre, which will be added to the Xbox Dashboard and Xbox.com.

Family Centre will work in conjunction with existing parental controls on the 360. These include the ability to remove mature games, movies, and content on the dashboard with Family Programming; allow family members to play certain games above the console’s designated BBFC rating with title exceptions; and control the amount of time spent playing games with the Family Timer.

The Family Pack forms part of Microsoft’s renewed focus on casual gamers, who were at the centre of its press conference at last week’s E3 event. Part of the show included the motion-sensing peripheral Natal, which was renamed to Kinect and also given a November release date. Fifteen titles have been confirmed for Kinect's launch, including first-party minigame collections, third-party fitness titles, and unnamed projects from Lucasarts, Q? Entertainment, THQ, and more.

41 Comments

  • mrgrins

    Posted Jun 28, 2010 7:44 am GMT

    @Czech895

    I am done trying to explain the implications in this article. If you don't get it, you don't get it.

  • Czech895

    Posted Jun 26, 2010 2:40 pm GMT

    @mrgrins lolwut?

  • ymala1

    Posted Jun 26, 2010 1:18 am GMT

    @gtapro123 The way it's put is confusing "four-year-long Xbox Live Gold memberships". I think rather than getting 4 years of live at $70, they're giving out 4 concurrently running 1 year memberships to live.
    Mind you, if your interpretation is correct, it would be teh awesome. . ..

  • gtapro123

    Posted Jun 25, 2010 9:14 am GMT

    So we're paying $70 for 4 years of xbox live gold? I'd buy it just for that!

  • rbop

    Posted Jun 25, 2010 8:05 am GMT

    Coming from a father of four this is a GREAT idea.

  • Revla

    Posted Jun 25, 2010 12:21 am GMT

    I like this idea. It'll also end very quickly arguments between kids and parents. 'You've been playing for too long' 'No I haven't' 'Do I need to check?' 'Ok I'll go to bed'
    Lol man that'll be sweet.

  • Blodbad_DK

    Posted Jun 25, 2010 12:06 am GMT

    I can see the point, and even think this is a good idea, IF and only if it works across multiple consoles in the same household.
    The normal gold should be tied to the console in the same way content is now: Any profile on a console with a gold account should have gold privileges from that console. You're not going to buy mulitple accounts for a single console, come on!

  • mrgrins

    Posted Jun 24, 2010 11:03 am GMT

    @Czech895

    I'm just quoting the article. It doesn't say it allows you to create 4 live accounts. It says it will give families up to 4 accounts "on one console." This isn't how I hope they do it, but given that they have it set up so you can only play DLC on the console it was downloaded on unless you have the account it was purchased with logged into Live, I could see them associating these accounts to a console like DLC.

  • lurkyuk

    Posted Jun 24, 2010 10:33 am GMT

    maybe if you raise your kids properly you could trust them not to go buying loads of MS points with your credit card and playing 18+ rated games? maybe if you keep an eye on them you'll know how long they've been playing the xbox for? or you could pay £99 to let a computer do it for you

  • Czech895

    Posted Jun 24, 2010 10:15 am GMT

    @mrgrins
    lolwut? that means that you can do the deal with up to 4 accs

  • Czech895

    Posted Jun 24, 2010 10:14 am GMT

    @bobbyjoe321 My sister has no use for an acc but I don't care I still save money

  • hannify

    Posted Jun 24, 2010 5:53 am GMT

    Quite clever

    @pash007

    Obviously that would be abused....

  • stubuz323

    Posted Jun 24, 2010 5:32 am GMT

    No this isn't four years, its four seperate subscriptions all lasting one year, some people need to read it properly, all four of the subcriptions are activated at the same time.

  • pash007

    Posted Jun 24, 2010 5:17 am GMT

    About time! It would be nice if the family pack memberships could also be split between machines.ie. £69 for 4 members, all in same house, but on 4 separate machines. Or is that too much to ask for?

  • Bashers79

    Posted Jun 24, 2010 4:47 am GMT

    @krelmmaster stop trolling.

  • rawr_xd

    Posted Jun 24, 2010 4:39 am GMT

    I have feeling you guys won't be able to manipulate this into getting yourself 4 years worth of gold. I think it will be a primary setup where you will have to associate the memberships to 4 different accounts on your console as you buy it. Sorry, but you know I'm probably right. They'd be screwing themselves out of $100 from many gamers.

  • scotwolf

    Posted Jun 24, 2010 2:13 am GMT

    i would consider this i already pay for xbox live gold accounts for myself and teenage son, we use the 360 everyday, but i have two daughters who do use the 360 and only have silver accounts, now my daughters maybe only use 2-3 times a week at present as i didn't think the added expense would be worth it. but if i can get four gold accounts for £69 then this would be worth doing.
    if you think gold is on average in the UK £35 year,(i have managed to get for approx £25) so do the maths 4 x £35 = £140 or even 4 x 25 = £100 makes the £69 family pack a worthwhile purchase.

    and for all those having a go about family and gaming should get a Wii etc and shouldn't be on 360 get a life. i have beeen an avid gamer since mid seventies i have always played video games and always will, and i have got all my kids into gaming wether on Wii, ds, psp,ps3, or 360 who cares what console surely the more gamers the better they won't all be hardcore and not all gamers play for hours every night like myself and son but but even my 6 year old daughter has been using a ds from about 3 years old and we play lego indiana/batman games together on 360 and she can even beat me on sonic allstar racing sometimes. in a few years time she will be a good hardcore gamer im sure.
    so i for one think the family pack is good for families and good for gaming.

  • Atiau posted Jun 24, 2010 12:29 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Atiau

    Posted Jun 24, 2010 12:29 am GMT (hide)

    Parents and gaming shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence.

  • krelmmaster posted Jun 23, 2010 11:55 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    krelmmaster

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 11:55 pm GMT (hide)

    I feel sorry for people who pay this subscription. You are basically paying extra money for making use of your internet connection, which you already pay another subscription for. Anything you can do internet wise on a 360 you can do for free on a PC, Mac, PS3, Wii etc etc. Xbox Live is such a scam /endrant

  • Sacif

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 11:33 pm GMT

    Furries REJOICE!

  • boobush

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 7:55 pm GMT

    For the lonely guy who likes to play with cute fuzzy critters it sounds like a reasonable price 90 bucks, 4 years... sounds like more than 50% savings

  • Aaron_Knuts1

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 6:34 pm GMT

    That's actually a nice, friendly idea for average size families.

  • Trogeton

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 4:44 pm GMT

    I idea of a family account is just having 1 xbl accound and having it set to Family instead of Pro, recreation, underground ect.. or why not just get a wii, like 90 % of people who own a 360 it's just for like 1 person in the house hold, not really sharing too much.. EVERYone I know that has one, that person is the only person that plays on it, and I have been through hundreds of friends on XBL most are adults and yes that is their 360 not the house holds

  • airsoftmanic

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 4:19 pm GMT

    if you have an xbox with more than one gold account, you're doing it wrong.
    casuals, all hail the death of proper gaming.

  • MomoxKairi

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 3:48 pm GMT

    You know.. This would only be nice if you could save the 4 one-year memberships and squish them into one 4-year long membership. Not that anyone will be playing the 360 in 4 years, if Microsoft has anything to do with it.

  • ebookerd1

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 3:47 pm GMT

    I wonder if it has to be the same console???? If so this is a steal!!! I mean that literally. I would sell yearly accounts to like everywhere it would be fantastic. I just have to find 3 saps... I mean friends to got along with me. I do see the value now.

  • midnight-walker

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 2:23 pm GMT

    This is microsoft trying to make the xbox more family freindly. If you want a family console buy a wii.

  • WolverineNinja

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 1:53 pm GMT

    Very excited about this actually. Will be nice for wife and kids Xbox profiles to also have Live access.

  • Mahoganyjoint

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 1:28 pm GMT

    ps3 sticking with traditional gaming.... 360 has gone to the dark side!! it will earn them alot of money tho.

  • Avenger1324

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 1:05 pm GMT

    I can't see why anyone would need 4 Gold accounts on the same console, let alone 4 that are tied together and will all expire together. This isn't a case where you can get together with 3 friends and all get normal Gold subs for a bit cheaper.

  • Imsterminate

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 12:10 pm GMT

    sounds...okay-ish. I'm not getting it though

  • The_Gaming_Baby

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 10:43 am GMT

    Shesh

  • bobbyjoe321

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 9:54 am GMT

    @Czech895
    lol Same for me! Despite of buying two gold membership seperatly, 1 family could be good by saving a lot of money.
    And I'll be the Master!
    THE MASTER OF PUPPETS!
    ... of Xbox Live's Family account...
    BUT THE MASTER ANYWAY!!
    XD

  • loopy_101

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 9:52 am GMT

    £69?

    What happened to free online play!

  • sebastempo

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 9:49 am GMT

    Ohhh look at Skittles, who is the most ugly tiger i've ever seen, who, who? Ohhh skittles you are killing me with your sharp claws.... OOOOOh isn't he cute with my liver in his paw?

  • hannify

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 9:24 am GMT

    Oh cuddles please - stop it - please

  • McNeelyJ39

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 9:07 am GMT

    This would have made sense 3 years ago. Now it just seems like a rip off. How about just give xbox live gold members 3 seperate accounts. Oh wait that would just make too much sense for M$ to do it.

  • The_crapgamer

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 8:41 am GMT

    A Gamertag is a gamertag. They all can be saved and used on other consoles. I doubt they are going to stop you from doing that now, it would be hard to do without implementing some sort of update. So I think this is a wonderful deal. Plus it goes a long way to speak of the value your actually getting from Microsoft.

  • mrgrins

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 8:33 am GMT

    "the pack will give families up to four year-long Xbox Live Gold memberships on one console"

    The value of these packaged gold accounts is significantly reduced If they are not allowed to be saved on a flash drive and used on another 360....

  • andalore

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 8:20 am GMT

    This is pretty good news, It'll save a lot of money for a lot of people, not just families.

  • Czech895

    Posted Jun 23, 2010 7:41 am GMT

    Mabye could use this just to save money for me and my bros lol although of course I would be the master!

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