Xbox Friend Requests Finally Reintroduced After a Decade

After a decade-long absence, Xbox has reinstated the much-requested friend request system, delighting countless gamers. This article details the return of this essential social feature.

Xbox Answers Player Plea: Friend Requests Are Back!

A Joyful Return for Xbox Users

Xbox has reintroduced friend requests, a highly sought-after feature from the Xbox 360 era. The announcement, made via blog post and Twitter (X), marks a significant change from the past decade's passive social system.

"We're thrilled to bring back friend requests," stated Xbox Senior Product Manager Klarke Clayton in the official announcement. "Friendships are now mutual, invite-based, offering greater control and flexibility." This means Xbox users can once again send, accept, or decline friend requests via the console's People tab.

The Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S previously utilized a "follow" system, allowing users to view each other's activity without needing approval. While fostering an open social environment, this lacked the control and intentionality of friend requests. The distinction between friends and followers was often unclear, leading to confusion.

The "follow" function will remain for one-way connections, allowing users to track content creators or gaming communities.

Existing friends and followers will be automatically categorized under the new system. Clayton clarified, "You'll remain friends with those who also added you, and continue following those who didn't."

Microsoft prioritizes user privacy. Enhanced privacy and notification settings accompany the friend request feature. Users can control who can send requests, who can follow them, and which notifications they receive, all accessible within the Xbox settings menu.

The news has generated overwhelmingly positive social media responses. Users are celebrating the return, highlighting the previous system's shortcomings, which often resulted in unwanted followers and a lack of notification control.

Some humorous reactions highlight the surprise at the feature's absence. While this update caters to social players, it doesn't diminish solo gaming's appeal.

A precise release date for the full rollout remains unannounced. However, given the strong player demand and current testing among Xbox Insiders on consoles and PC (starting this week), a full release later this year is expected. Xbox's tweet promises further details soon.

Join the Xbox Insiders program to experience the feature early. Download the Xbox Insider Hub on your Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or Windows PC.