On going strategy for two children and xbox game pass.

Glyn 580 · Nov 14, 2023

Hi,

I have two boys (12 & 14) who I manage in a family group. I currently have game pass ultimate in my name on auto-subscribe (since 2020). We currently have one xbox. I don't play myself.

Q1 - When I look at "games I own" in the xbox app on my phone, I see 46 in my name, 7 in my 14 y/o and none for my 12 y/o. Have I messed up, and should I have purchased games under my childrens accounts rather than my own?

Some of these are "free" games that have been obtained via game-pass, but several are games I purchased for them. I don't believe that I can transfer the games between accounts, but I want to understand what I should do for future purchases (they probably won't be playing the same games in future that they do now, but that will likely change over the coming years). I *think* I should make purchases under the child account who I am primarily purchasing it for (planning ahead - so when they leave home, they get to take their games with them). In that case, would the other child still play be able to play it under their account? e.g. If I buy Ace Combat on the 12 y/o's account, would the 14 y/o still be able to play it on his?

Q2 - They would like to play each other with one on the xbox and one cloud gaming on a chromebook, but they get frustrated that they can't use their accounts (and thus progress / user config) when cloud gaming and one of them is forced to use my account. Too allow them to play against each other on their own accounts, should I...

A - stop renewing game pass ultimate in my name and then purchase it for my 14 y/o so then he will get cloud gaming able to play on the chromebook? But, if I did this, would the 12 y/o still be able to play on-line when on the xbox, as he is part of the family, or does MS require me to have a game pass account in my name (as the adult in the family group) for family-wide on-line gaming to work?

B - purchase them a second xbox (it is almost xmas!), so cloud gaming on the chromebook wouldn't then be required, in which case, whose account should I use as "Home" for the new xbox?

C - do something else?

TIA - Glyn.

:)

CarTzy

Hello Glyn 580,

Thank you for posting in the Microsoft Community.

Q1 - You have not messed up, you have done everything correctly. When you purchase games under your own account, you can share them with your children as long as they are in your family group and use the same Xbox console as you. This is called game sharing and it is a feature of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. However, if you want your children to own the games individually and take them with them when they leave home, then you should purchase the games under their accounts in the future. In that case, the other child would still be able to play the game under their account if they are in the same family group and use the same Xbox console as you, but they would not be able to play it on another device or console.

Q2 - If your children want to play against each other on their own accounts, one on the Xbox and one on cloud gaming, then you have two options:

A - You can stop renewing Game Pass Ultimate in your name and purchase it for your XX y/o, so he can access cloud gaming on the Chromebook. The XX y/o would still be able to play online on the Xbox, as he is part of the family group and has access to your Game Pass Ultimate benefits. You do not need to have a Game Pass account in your name for family-wide online gaming to work.

B - You can purchase them a second Xbox, so they can both play on their own consoles and accounts. This would also allow them to play different games at the same time, or play together on co-op or multiplayer modes. However, this would require you to purchase another Game Pass Ultimate subscription for the second console, or set up one of the consoles as your home Xbox and share your Game Pass Ultimate benefits with the other console.

You have many options to choose from, so you can decide what kind of gaming experience you want to offer. You can buy a different game for each device, or you can get them both an Xbox Games Pass Ultimate subscription for cloud gaming. It depends on your budget and preferences.

I hope this answers your questions and helps you enjoy gaming with your family. If you have any other questions or issues, please let me know. Have a great day!

Capitain Gonzo

Hi, that's easy. You set your XBOX with your account as a home console. Then you simply put the two profiles of your children on the XBOX and the two can use your game pass.

MarvinaPerez

Hello, if you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, then you only need one subscription for your two children to play together online.

That's because Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes all the benefits of Xbox Game Pass Core, including access to online multiplayer games.

If you have an Xbox Game Pass Core subscription, then you will need a subscription for each child. This is because Xbox Game Pass Core does not include access to online multiplayer games.

If you have an Xbox Game Pass for PC subscription, then you don't need a subscription for your two kids to play together online. This is because online multiplayer games on PC are free.

MRallamagoosa

As most I too am waiting to see how Fallen Order will be on release.

It is going to be a strategy month for me anyay with CIV VI coming on XBOX and Age of Empires II on game pass for PC.

Tempestium

Stellaris is a really nice game for the game pass. All of a sudden Xbox is finally getting more strategy games, it's very appreciated.

On going strategy for two children and xbox game pass.