Microsoft recently announced a price increase for all Xbox Game Pass tiers, causing an uproar among fans and drawing criticism from the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC accused Microsoft of downgrading its service, a claim that Microsoft quickly refuted as misleading.
The tech giant clarified that the new Game Pass Standard is not a “degraded” version of the previous Game Pass for Console. The old version lacked multiplayer functionality, which required an additional $9.99 per month. The new Game Pass Standard consolidates these services, providing more value despite the higher price.
In addition, the price for Game Pass Ultimate will rise from $16.99 to $19.99 per month. Microsoft justifies this increase by highlighting the inclusion of more day-one releases, such as the highly anticipated Call of Duty, which has never been available on a subscription service before.
Microsoft contends that the FTC’s focus has inappropriately shifted from potential market competition issues to price changes. The company asserts that it is common for businesses to adjust service offerings over time and denies any evidence supporting the FTC’s claim that Microsoft is harming competition.
Furthermore, Microsoft emphasizes that Call of Duty is not being withheld from any platform, countering the FTC’s arguments about market foreclosure. They insist that the price changes reflect the added value and new features in the service, rather than any attempt to harm consumers.
The controversy continues as both Microsoft and the FTC stand firm in their positions. Fans and industry observers await further developments in this ongoing dispute.
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