Microsoft hits back at changes to Game Pass, saying the new tier offers “more value”

XBOX recently announced major price increases on Game Pass, and gamers are not happy.

Not only will Xbox Game Pass prices increase across the board, but Xbox Game Pass for console will also be replaced by Game Pass Standard.

Game Pass Standard is not only more expensive than Game Pass for console, but it also doesn’t offer players day one releases.

The US Federal Trade Commission has filed a statement alleging that Xbox is using its acquisition of Activision Blizzard to offer gamers a “degraded” product.

However, Xbox denied this claim, issuing its own statement claiming that the new tiers offer “more value” to players.

Microsoft’s statement reads: “Microsoft is offering a new service tier, Game Pass Standard, which offers access to hundreds of back catalog games and multiplayer functionality.

“It is wrong to call this a ‘downgraded’ version of the discontinued Game Pass for Console offering.

“The discontinued product did not offer multiplayer functionality, which had to be purchased separately.”

Microsoft claims that despite removing access to day one releases, the addition of online multiplayer means that gamers across the board are getting better value for money.

Furthermore, Microsoft claims that the FTC is only making these statements to “try to reinvent its appeal case.”

Microsoft claims that in the FTC’s original ruling, the commission focused primarily on the company withholding access to Call of Duty from Sony and PlayStation.

The statement reads: “The FTC barely mentioned the signature at trial, focusing instead on the theory that Microsoft would withhold Call of Duty from Sony consoles.

“[This theory] now it is further eroded by the ten-year agreement between Microsoft and Sony to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation – a contract that Sony was ‘thrilled’ to sign.”

Whether the new level is a better or worse value will be subjective to each player.

Those who primarily play online will likely save money, while those who want to play the latest games will lose out.

If you want to read more about Xbox, check out the latest games on Xbox Game Pass.

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