News Microsoft's new Xbox Game Pass Standard Tier is a 'degraded product' according to FTC

[Admin]

Microsoft Game Pass subscription prices are rising across the board and the FTC isn't happy about it, says Microsoft is exercising its market power post-merger with Activision-Blizzard.

Microsoft's new Xbox Game Pass Standard Tier is a 'degraded product' according to FTC : Read more

 

[Pemalite]

Price rises are happening across the world... Especially subscriptions.

And correlation is not causation... To assert otherwise is disingenuous and the FTC should know better.

Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Max, Apple TV Plus, Paramount Plus, and Peacock have all raised their prices. Netflix and Hulu its almost a yearly ritual.

And 6 months ago Sony raised the prices of Playstation Plus! and they didn't buy activision blizzard.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I have been a gamer for several decades and I am not surprised with the price increases for XBOX Game Pass. The different tiers is just marketing to get people to accept the price increases and hope they choose Game Pass Ultimate. Eventually all this will do is create consumer backlash for subscriptions in general because this is happening to subscriptions as a whole.

 

[Blastomonas]

Price rises are happening across the world... Especially subscriptions.

And correlation is not causation... To assert otherwise is disingenuous and the FTC should know better.

Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Max, Apple TV Plus, Paramount Plus, and Peacock have all raised their prices. Netflix and Hulu its almost a yearly ritual.

And 6 months ago Sony raised the prices of Playstation Plus! and they didn't buy activision blizzard.

This is true, but, one is getting less than before and an increase in price for the privilege.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

I wonder if this is only in the US? I'm a PC Game pass subscriber in Europe (Ireland). It costs me €9.99 per month. I have not paid an increase (Yet, maybe).

For those wondering if it's good value. I can only speak for the PC Game Pass. I think it's excellent for the price. It works out at €120 odd for the year, and I get all the day one releases. I would prob spend about the same amount on buying new titles each year anyway. But along with all the day one releases, the catalog is really good. I'm trying out a lot of games I ordinarily wouldn't, because I can't play a demo before purchase. Having the full game from the start let's me try it out, and either keep it in my library or try something different.

Even if the price increased slightly, I would still pay it. For me at least, it's value for money.

 

[hotaru251]

Price rises are happening across the world... Especially subscriptions.

And correlation is not causation... To assert otherwise is disingenuous and the FTC should know better.

Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Max, Apple TV Plus, Paramount Plus, and Peacock have all raised their prices. Netflix and Hulu its almost a yearly ritual.

And 6 months ago Sony raised the prices of Playstation Plus! and they didn't buy activision blizzard.

yes, but unlike sony MS degraded what you get.

you lose access to D1 games while you pay more.
thats the issue if it was just a price hike thats normal. raising price while also changing the terms of the agreement on what you get is entirely different.


Still best deal for gaming if you dont like comitting to $60+ for games. (especially if you are type who doesnt re-play games just beats em once)

 

[Pemalite]

yes, but unlike sony MS degraded what you get.

you lose access to D1 games while you pay more.
thats the issue if it was just a price hike thats normal. raising price while also changing the terms of the agreement on what you get is entirely different.


Still best deal for gaming if you dont like comitting to $60+ for games. (especially if you are type who doesnt re-play games just beats em once)

I am a physical collector/hoarder/owner.
Once Microsoft threw out Games with Gold, I threw out my Gold subscription and haven't missed it.

Subscriptions just aren't for me.

Many other streaming services have altered their "terms of agreement" as well, paid+advertising streaming tiers tended to replace lower tiered ad-free because it turns out... Adverts were more lucrative.
It also pushed people to the higher premium tiers.
Netflix have just done this... See here:
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/19/nx-s1-5046733/netflix-ends-its-cheapest-ad-free-subscription

 

[Pemalite]

This is true, but, one is getting less than before and an increase in price for the privilege.

Happens with other streaming services as well. Case in point Netflix.
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/19/nx-s1-5046733/netflix-ends-its-cheapest-ad-free-subscription

 

[hotaru251]

I am a physical collector/hoarder/owner.

i agree. If i can buy a physical product I will (i miss days when you got stuff w/ games like art, lore, and the like)
however indie games (and they lately are better than the actual AA/AAA games) will never get them so getting to try them via gamepass is a great thing.

and digital copies don't count as you don't own anything digital hosted on someone elses server.

 

[thestryker]

... one is getting less than before and an increase in price for the privilege.

yes, but unlike sony MS degraded what you get.

you lose access to D1 games while you pay more.
thats the issue if it was just a price hike thats normal. raising price while also changing the terms of the agreement on what you get is entirely different.

This is both true and false. It's losing day one game access and gaining built in console multiplayer. This is a change everyone should have seen coming last year when they got rid of Gold and changed it to Game Pass Core. Console game pass was the only console applicable version that didn't have console multiplayer after that. I always assumed the point behind the pricing on Console Game Pass was to get people to just sign up for Ultimate. So perhaps the actual numbers didn't reflect buyers of Console Game Pass buying Gold/upgrading to Ultimate.

On that note the FTC pointing to Call of Duty is kinda funny seeing as the majority of regular buyers are doing it for MP which Console Game Pass doesn't have.

I don't think it's a good change, but with prices increasing in general for services it's pretty much expected.