Xbox game sharing does not goes well with MS family and parental control features.

kisembear · Jan 8, 2019

When I purchased a game or subscription (xbox live), my whole family could play with those, worked like a charm. Issues raised when we step to the next level and bought a second xbox. I expected that sharing among family will work unbound but I learned
that it is extremely limited via 'my home Xbox' lock. I (dad) have to be loged in on the second xbox (not home xbox) to be able to benefit xbox live. Obviously I don't want to allow auto login without passkey for my children. I could buy the subscription to
a 'fake family member account' with no credit card associated, but come on, do I really need a workaround for this? Not to mention, it would not work on a third console as it is not possible to sign in on multiple devices. Playing a game on two console bought
as a gift for a child with another two child makes extra juggling.

If the intention is to share content/subscription within a family, then it should be possible to mark multiple console an 'my home xbox', then it would work with the current sharing principle unharmed. To avoid abuse it might require some extra proof that
those consoles are in the same household like, 1) has the same public IP, 2) has extra low latency among them supposing they are on the same network or checking mac address of the network devices, 3) simply checking that they are in wireless/bluetooth range,
4) pairing the same wireless controller within a short time, ...

If it is not intended to share the content within a family, then it would be nice if there would be a 'household share' or 'family share' price.

I have 3 kids and I also like to play. I just don't get it how to play with my kids 'properly' on two consoles, not to mention how they could play with each other (without me). What I know already that it would not work with 3rd/4th console, but I don't
know if I expected to buy games/subscriptions multiple times or it is a work in progress feature to really share those.

Please advise.

:)

{Parity}

The home sharing feature is designed to be used on one console within the same household. Unfortunately, you have found the limitation of trying to use it across multiple consoles.

kisembear

What a pity. I missed the point at first read.

Still hunger for family centered solution, I hope this message reach MS somehow.

kisembear

Oh no! So, the most economic way to share among family members is to have fake members for every two console in my family and buy all games/subscriptions for too, killing the 'gift' part from 'buy as a gift' option.

WP, I just hope it is not intentional.

The Viral Cyrix

Right now HOME xbox sharing is limited to one console. I understand where you are coming from I have 5 consoles in my home So I share with another console and my sons share with each other. the fifth console has its own subscription so in all I pay for
3 subscriptions to gold and 3 subscriptions to Game pass. as well as having to buy more than one copy of a game if we all want to play

RandyAU93

If you're referring to accounts that are listed on the
Microsoft Account website as your family, I'm afraid those accounts will not receive access to any entitlements your account may have. The Family feature only allows use of parental controls; it does not share account privileges. As the other Ambassadors
have correctly noted, users who sign into your account's Home Xbox will be able to use your Gold features as well as play games that you've installed using Xbox Game Pass.

Xbox game sharing does not goes well with MS family and parental control features.