Xbox has listened to the community's long-standing plea and reinstated the friend request system. Dive in to discover how this beloved feature is making a comeback to the platform.

Xbox Responds to Community's Call for Friend Requests

‘We’re So Back!’ Xbox Users Celebrate

Xbox is reviving a fan-favorite feature from the Xbox 360 era: friend requests. Announced through an official blog post and on Twitter (X), this update marks a significant shift from the passive social system that has been in place for the last decade.

"We’re thrilled to announce the return of friend requests," Xbox Senior Product Manager Klarke Clayton shared in the announcement. "Friends are now a two-way, invite-approved relationship, providing you with more control and flexibility." This update allows Xbox users to send, accept, or decline friend requests directly from the People tab on their consoles.

Previously, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S utilized a "follow" system, enabling users to view each other’s activity feeds without needing approval. While this fostered a more open social environment, many longed for the control and intentionality that friend requests offered. The previous system, which distinguished between friends and followers, often lacked clarity, making it challenging to filter genuine mutual connections and differentiate between friends and casual acquaintances.

While friend requests make a comeback, the "follow" feature will continue to support one-way connections. This allows users to follow content creators or gaming communities and stay updated on their activities without needing a reciprocal follow.

Existing friends and followers will be automatically sorted into the appropriate categories under the new system. "You’ll remain friends with those who had also added you as a friend previously and continue following anyone who hadn’t," Clayton explained.

Privacy remains a top priority for Microsoft. The return of friend requests comes with enhanced privacy and notification settings. Users can now control who can send them friend requests, who can follow them, and which notifications they receive. These options are accessible through the Xbox settings menu.

The announcement of friend requests' return has sparked a wave of positive feedback across social media. Users are celebrating with comments like "we’re so back!" and are highlighting the absurdity of the previous system, which left them overwhelmed by followers without any notifications.

There's also a humorous tone to some reactions, as some users were unaware the feature was missing. While this system caters more to social players eager to build online connections, it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of playing solo. After all, some victories are best savored alone.

The exact release date for the wider rollout of friend requests on Xbox remains undisclosed. However, given the overwhelming demand from fans, it's highly unlikely that Microsoft will retract this feature, especially since it's currently in testing with Xbox Insiders on consoles and PCs "starting this week." According to Xbox’s tweet, more details about the "full rollout" are expected later this year.

In the meantime, you can join the Xbox Insiders program to be among the first to experience the feature's return. Simply download the Xbox Insider Hub on your Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or Windows PC—it's as straightforward as sending a friend request.