Xbox has finally heeded the long-standing call from its community by reinstating the beloved friend request system, much to the delight of gamers worldwide. This pivotal change marks the return of a feature that was a staple during the Xbox 360 era, and its reintroduction addresses a decade-long demand from the Xbox community.
‘We’re So Back!’ Xbox Users Exclaim
In a recent announcement made through a blog post and on X (formerly Twitter), Xbox revealed that it is bringing back the friend request system. "We’re thrilled to announce the return of friend requests," stated Xbox Senior Product Manager Klarke Clayton. This update transforms friendships into a two-way, invite-approved relationship, enhancing user control and flexibility. Xbox users can now send, accept, or decline friend requests directly from the People tab on their consoles.
For the past decade, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S users were accustomed to a "follow" system, which allowed for a more open social environment by viewing others' activity feeds without explicit approval. However, this system often left users feeling disconnected as it blurred the lines between friends and followers. The distinction between these categories was frequently unclear, with no option to filter mutual connections effectively.
While friend requests make a comeback, the "follow" feature will remain available for one-way connections, allowing users to keep up with content creators and gaming communities without needing a reciprocal follow. Clayton further explained that existing friends and followers will automatically be sorted into the appropriate categories under the new system: "You’ll stay friends with people who had also added you as a friend previously and continue following anyone who hadn’t."
Privacy remains a top priority for Microsoft. Alongside the return of friend requests, new privacy and notification settings will be introduced. Users will have control over who can send them friend requests, who can follow them, and the notifications they receive, all accessible via the Xbox settings menu.
The announcement has sparked a wave of positive feedback on social media, with users expressing their excitement with phrases like "we’re so back!" Some have humorously noted they were unaware the feature was ever gone. While this update caters primarily to social gamers looking to build stronger online connections, it doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of playing solo—sometimes, the most rewarding victories are those earned alone.
Although the exact release date for the broader rollout of friend requests on Xbox hasn’t been disclosed yet, the feature is currently being tested by Xbox Insiders on consoles and PC. According to Xbox’s announcement, more details about the "full rollout" can be expected later this year.
If you’re eager to be among the first to experience this long-awaited feature, you can join the Xbox Insiders program. Simply download the Xbox Insider Hub on your Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or Windows PC, and you'll be ready to reconnect with friends in a more meaningful way.
