Today Microsoft announced that it will be adding a Xbox Live Gold subscription plan geared toward families who share a single Xbox 360 Live account. Dubbed the ‘Xbox Live Gold Family Pack,’ the new plan allows up to four Gold memberships controlled by one primary account, who can distribute Microsoft Points and monitor online activity.

The Family Pack, which costs $99 annually, also promises “[e]xclusive family content and discounts.” Microsoft has this new bundle slated to arrive in November, the same month that Kinect is suppose to hit.

According to the press release, The Family Pack will include:

• Up to four individual Xbox LIVE Gold memberships for the price of two – (US) $99.99.
• Family Center – a single, easy to use, destination for Family Settings and account management, accessible on the Xbox dashboard and on Xbox.com.
• The primary account member has the ability to purchase and dispense Microsoft Points to other Xbox LIVE Gold Family Pack members.
• Activity monitoring reports viewable on Xbox.com to help encourage discussions about safer more balanced gaming and entertainment habits.
• Simplified billing that applies all purchase charges to the primary account holder’s billing account and the ability to authorize purchases, helping to manage the family’s entertainment budget.
• Exclusive family content and discounts.

Personally, I’m surprised it took Microsoft this long to come up with an idea like this. Drawing on my experience as a younger brother, I can imagine the kinds of fights kids get into now-a-days over things like Xbox Live accounts.

What do you guys think? Will this new plan make families more likely to pick up a Gold account? Will this stop fraternal fighting over Live accounts?  Would you consider picking this up if you have roommate that share an Xbox? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.

Source: Shacknews.com