Xbox Is Bringing Back a Feature That’s Been Missing Since the 360 Era

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Xbox Is Bringing Back a Feature That's Been Missing Since the 360 Era

Key Takeaways

  • Xbox is reintroducing two-way friend requests that have been missing since the X360 era.
  • The new social feature is rolling out to Xbox Insiders program members later this week.
  • Since 2013, Xbox has been offering a Twitter-style system of followers and followees (which it confusingly labeled as friends) for connecting with others rather than two-way friend requests.

As a seasoned Xbox gamer with memories of the X360 era still fresh in my mind, I can’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia upon hearing that Microsoft is bringing back two-way friend requests. It’s like reconnecting with an old friend you thought you had lost forever!

In a recent announcement, Microsoft shared that the Xbox platform will bring back simple friend request options starting from mid-September 2024 for some users.

How Xbox Friends and Followers Work Right Now

Microsoft last updated the social aspect of its gaming environment concurrently with the launch of Xbox One in November 2013. Since then, Xbox users have been utilizing a Twitter-like social media platform where anyone can follow anyone else. While friends and followers are kept distinct within this system, it’s important to note that those labeled as ‘friends’ are simply individuals someone has chosen to follow. There’s currently no option to filter these ‘friends’ for mutual connections, which some users have found perplexing.

Xbox Is Bringing Back X360-Like Friend Requests

Microsoft is considering reintroducing a decade-old feature, as they’ve recently announced they’re testing the return of the old friend request system on a trial basis. The feature is expected to be made available to members of the Xbox Insider program by September 15 at the latest. From what we know so far, it seems that Microsoft’s upcoming experiment aims to fully restore the Facebook-like friend requests from the Xbox 360 era, enabling users to send, accept, and remove these requests as needed.

The introduction of two-way social links, which are easily traceable, will likely bring positive responses from some Xbox users who have long advocated for this feature. The primary concern with the existing setup is that it doesn’t alert users about new followers when they’re offline. Given the lack of a clear request log, this arrangement can make it difficult to recognize individuals worth following. Additionally, the use of the term “friends” to describe these one-way connections can lead to misunderstandings, as it would be more accurate to label them as “followees” or “following,” with the latter being similar to how Twitter uses those terms.

After the upcoming Xbox Insider update, individuals involved in the program can utilize friend requests once more, found within the People section. The revised system maintains the ‘follower’ categorization for one-way links and updates old connections with suitable tags automatically. Additionally, the update introduces new privacy settings that let users regulate who can send them friend invitations, follow them, and more. These settings can be accessed by going to Settings > Account > Privacy & online safety > Xbox privacy > View details & customize > Friends, followers & clubs.

New Xbox Friends and Followers Privacy Settings

  • A toggle for allowing others to send friend requests to the user
  • A toggle for allowing others to follow the user
  • A multi-choice dropdown menu for controlling who can see the user’s Friends and Following lists

Just as with any Xbox Insider updates, there’s no concrete promise that the revamped social system will eventually reach the main channel. However, considering the persistent demands from fans for friend requests to return, it seems unlikely that Microsoft would let go of this feature after bringing it to testing. That said, the company hasn’t provided a specific timeline for when everyone can expect friend requests. In the interim, enthusiasts like myself are encouraged to sign up for Xbox Insiders to get an early taste of these updates.

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2024-09-12 00:03