Xbox Friend Requests Finally Reintroduced After a Decade

Xbox Revives Friend Requests: A Decade-Long Wait Ends

Xbox has finally reinstated the much-requested friend request system, ending a ten-year absence. This welcome change addresses a long-standing community plea and marks a significant shift in Xbox's social interaction approach.

A Two-Way Street: More Control, More Connection

Xbox's announcement, shared via blog and Twitter (X), confirms the return of friend requests, a feature familiar to Xbox 360 users. As Xbox Senior Product Manager Klarke Clayton stated, "We’re thrilled to announce the return of friend requests. Friends are now a two-way, invite-approved relationship, giving you more control and flexibility." This means users can once again send, accept, or reject friend requests via the console's People tab.

The previous "follow" system, while fostering an open social environment, lacked the direct connection and control offered by friend requests. The blurred lines between friends and followers often resulted in unclear relationships and an inability to easily filter genuine connections.

The "follow" function remains for one-way connections, allowing users to track content creators or communities without mutual approval. Existing friends and followers will be automatically categorized under the new system. Clayton clarified, "You’ll stay friends with those who also added you, and continue following those who didn’t."

Privacy Enhanced: Tailored Notification Settings

Microsoft prioritizes user privacy. New privacy and notification settings accompany the friend request feature, allowing users to control who can send requests, who can follow them, and which notifications they receive. These settings are accessible within the Xbox settings menu.

Positive Response: A Joyful Reunion

The announcement has been met with overwhelmingly positive feedback on social media. Users are celebrating the return, highlighting the previous system's shortcomings, which often resulted in an overwhelming number of followers without notification. While some players were even unaware of the feature's absence, the return caters to social gamers seeking stronger online connections without diminishing the appeal of solo play.

Rollout and Insider Access

While a precise release date isn't yet available, Xbox Insiders on consoles and PC can access the feature starting this week. Xbox's tweet promises more details on the full rollout later this year. Joining the Xbox Insiders program provides early access. Download the Xbox Insider Hub on your Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or Windows PC to participate.