Microsoft recently faced allegations from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding the quality of their Game Pass service. The FTC claimed that the tech giant’s recent changes to Game Pass offered a “degraded” experience, which could potentially harm consumers. This accusation came in light of Microsoft’s announcement of a price increase for the PC Game Pass and the introduction of a new ‘Standard tier’ for Xbox Game Pass.
In response to the FTC’s claims, Microsoft issued a statement refuting the allegations. Microsoft argued that the FTC’s portrayal of the situation was “misleading” and did not accurately represent the facts. They emphasized that the changes made to the Game Pass service were not intended to provide a degraded experience for consumers. Microsoft pointed out that the discontinued Game Pass for Console did not offer multiplayer functionality, which had to be purchased separately at an additional cost.
Microsoft further defended their position by highlighting the increased value offered by the new Game Pass service. They mentioned that the price increase for Game Pass Ultimate would be accompanied by access to more new games available ‘day-and-date’. This includes highly anticipated titles such as Call Of Duty, which will now be accessible through the subscription service on the day of release. Microsoft argued that these enhancements outweigh any perceived degradation in the service.
The tech giant also addressed the issue of competition and consumer experience raised by the FTC. Microsoft countered the claim that the availability of Call Of Duty on rival platforms could harm competition. They stressed that the game was not being withheld from any platform and that PlayStation’s subscription service continued to thrive despite offering fewer new games ‘day-and-date’.
Personal Perspective
While legally neutral on the matter, it is essential to consider the consumer’s perspective. From a consumer point of view, a higher price for a service with fewer features may indeed be seen as a degraded experience. Despite the inclusion of multiplayer in the lower tier of Xbox Game Pass, PC players may not see it as a significant benefit, as access to multiplayer on PC is often not subscription-based. As such, the price increase for the PC Game Pass may be perceived as unjustified.
Microsoft’s response to the FTC’s allegations regarding the Game Pass service sheds light on the complexities of the situation. While the introduction of new features and games may enhance the value proposition for some consumers, others may see the price increase as detracting from the overall experience. Ultimately, the debate underscores the importance of considering consumer needs and expectations when implementing changes to subscription services.
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