Xbox Revives Friend Requests After a Decade

Xbox is reintroducing friend requests for the first time since the Xbox 360 era, a decade and two console generations after the feature was last available.

The long-requested feature will be accessible to Xbox Insiders starting this week, including those using the PC Gaming preview on Windows PCs and devices like the ROG Ally. It will allow users to "easily send, accept, or delete friend requests," creating a "two-way, invite-approved relationship." Users will still be able to follow their favorite creators separately.

The current system, which has been in place since the Xbox One era, allows users to follow others without them needing to reciprocate. This system, introduced more than ten years ago, has been criticized for making it difficult to manage friendships and notifications, leading to periodic calls for a return of the friend request feature.

One user expressed frustration in 2018, noting the lack of notifications when someone sends a friend request, which made it challenging to track and manage new connections.

With the reintroduction of friend requests, existing friends and followers will be updated automatically. Users can send requests through the People tab, and new privacy and notification settings will be added to manage these requests. Xbox has not yet announced when the feature will be available to all users.