Xbox is bringing back classic friend requests, so the person you spent five hours playing Fortnite with can tell you your relationship isn’t that strong by ignoring them

As if sensing that Space Marine 2 is taking us back to the 360 ​​era, Xbox has announced that as part of what it’s calling an “updated friends and followers experience,” it’s bringing back a traditional friend request system reminiscent of systems from the past.

Yes, this means you will be able to more clearly see that that random person you thought you had a connection with doesn’t want to stay connected with you for more than the few hours they already have. That’s okay, it’s not your problem, it’s theirs.

“We’re excited to announce the return of friend requests,” the console maker wrote in a blog post about the upcoming changes. “Now you can easily send, accept, or delete friend requests, making it easier to connect with others. Friends are now a two-way, invite-only relationship, giving you more control and flexibility. Meanwhile, following someone remains a one-way connection, allowing you to stay up to date with what they’re sharing, whether it’s other players, clubs, or games.”

The company also said that Alpha Skip-Ahead users on Xbox consoles and PC Gaming preview users on Windows PCs and handhelds will begin trying out the change this week, and that it will share more about it when the new systems are fully available “later this year.”

Oh, and before you worry about losing all your social influence in this change, Xbox has confirmed that existing friends will be retained when switching between this system and the social media-style follower system the console maker has been running since 2013.

As mentioned before, it can make it all the more painful if someone turns down your friend request after you’ve spent so long building chemistry and gaining the kind of uncomfortable intimate knowingness that is usually only found in couples who have been together for 40 years.

“Remember when we were together? That time we bumped into each other at Reckless Railways and you didn’t try to run me over with your Cybertruck even though I had to leave to answer a takeout order, and we ended up duking it out as a duo?” You’ll say this the next time you run into them in Fortnite, probably during a Metallica concert or something like that. The wound of not being an official friend hurts more than not getting a response.

Are you happy to see Xbox reintroduce friend requests? Let us know below.