There were no friend requests on Xbox consoles for more than 10 years. Now Microsoft is bringing back the fan-favorite feature – for all players.
Update from November 15th: Microsoft has released a major November update for the Xbox. What’s new is the return of friend requests. The feature was previously reserved for Xbox Insiders. In addition, the search function is said to have been improved (all innovations in Xbox Wire view).
Original message from September 20th:
Xbox is bringing back a social feature that’s over 10 years old
Back in the days of the Xbox 360, friendships on the console were clearly regulated: you could send a request and if the other person agreedyou were Xbox friends.
However, with the Xbox One, Microsoft changed this to a system with followers instead of friends and was therefore more oriented towards Twitter than Facebook. From now on you could follow people and be followed by others, although overall it was less personal and more confusing.
Now Microsoft has announced that the friend requests return – initially the feature will only be available for Xbox Insiders.
With the return of friend requests you now get more control over itwho you are connected to on your Xbox.
Existing friends will be taken over if someone just follows you without being followed back. you simply remain a follower.
To test the feature, you need to log in via the Xbox Insider Hub app on either your console or your PC Register for the Insider Program and then you can select the feature above it.
Xbox community welcomes friend requests
The announcement is definitely well received on Reddit – players are happy about the small but nice feature, which is not a revolutionary change for most but social interaction is still improved.
I didn’t hate the system before, following people was a cool idea, but the fact that you had to follow each other to be friends was nonsense.
This is a good improvement. Being friends or just following people feels like they’ve finally upgraded to the system they should have had from the start.
Reddit-User darkdeath174
I always thought it was ridiculous that they changed that.
Reddit-User xCeePee
(Those: Reddit)
With a Game Pass change, Xbox has unfortunately adapted a popular savings trick to your disadvantage: