Update, 20th July, 2024: Xbox has hit back at the FTC, saying it is “wrong” and “misleading” to call its revised Xbox Game Pass tiers “degraded”, and stating the Commission “barely mentioned [concerns about] subscription[s] at trial”.
“Earlier this month, Microsoft announced changes to its gaming subscription service, Game Pass, to provide consumers valuable options at different price points,” Xbox said, in court papers filed yesterday, Friday 19th July.
“Microsoft is offering a new service tier, Game Pass Standard, which offers access to hundreds of back-catalogue games ‘and multiplayer functionality for S14.99/month.
“It is wrong to call this a ‘degraded’ version of the discontinued Game Pass for Console offering. That discontinued product did not offer multiplayer functionality, which had to be purchased separately for an additional $9.99/month (making the total cost $20.98/month).
“While Game Pass Ultimate’s price will increase from $16.99 to $19.99/month, the service will offer more value through many new games available ‘day-and-date’. Among them is the upcoming release of Call of Duty, which has never before been available on a subscription day-and-date.”
“The FTC barely mentioned subscription at trial, instead focusing on the theory that Microsoft would withhold Call of Duty from Sony’s console. The district court correctly rejected that theory, which is now further eroded by Microsoft and Sony’s ten- year agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation – a contract Sony was ‘thrilled’ to enter.”
Microsoft has responded to the FTC’s filing about Xbox Game Pass price increases. It calls the FTC’s letter a “misleading, extra-record account of the facts” and says the FTC is wrong to call Game Pass Standard a “degraded” version because it includes multiplayer https://t.co/ocS9yfwSix pic.twitter.com/QXUoViUpoL— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) July 19, 2024