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[TweakTown]: FTC calls Xbox Game Pass Standard tier a 'degraded product,' alleges harm to consumers
- Thread starter ChiefDada
- Start date
bender
What time is it?
Price increase and service restructuring happening right before the crown jewel of the acquisition entering the service.
thicc_girls_are_teh_best
Member
Not necessarily disagreeing on that. However, it's just bad luck for Microsoft that this is all also timed with them having recently finished a $75 billion acquisition, right before ABK's biggest game of the year is set to release in the service, right after console Game Pass was rebranded to 'Standard' with Day 1 removed (plus a price increase).
It's not lost on the FTC that the other factors like inflation (well, depending on the country & market; fast food is just price gouging for profits) and whatnot could also be factors. They're just going to sideline/minimize them though. It'd be up to MS to argue why those things are the big factors for the service changes, but I also kinda doubt anyone takes this to court. It's more like public criticism from the FTC; MS will probably respond with something and then both sides drop the topic until another time.
....although, I don't think the FTC ever actually dropped their case against the acquisition. They could be using this as evidence for something later...imagine if the fiscal results from MS gaming side show declines even with ABK?
Sushi_Combo
Member
saintjules
Gold Member
Hero of Spielberg
Member
I have no doubt they are increasing the price because they want to make more money out of the purchase, I mean they are a business after all.Price increase and service restructuring happening right before the crown jewel of the acquisition entering the service.
I think they even gave themselves some wriggle room with the CMA signalling that it would be on the cards.
"Game Pass prices will not increase as a result of the Merger, and certainly will not increase to a point that offsets the substantial benefits of Activision titles coming to Game Pass on a day and date basis," reads Microsoft's response (via a transcription by VideoGamesChronicle). "This is especially so given Game Pass will continue to be constrained by B2P."
Basically lawyer speak for 'but even when we do it won't offset the value of people getting COD on the service'
MarkMe2525
Gold Member
Is this directly pointing to the price increase, as gamepass core did not include day one games either? Maybe I should actually read the source material.
bender
What time is it?
It's not terribly surprising. I also wouldn't be surprised if the next scheme is artificial price increases by detaching perks (EA Play, Day-and-Date, etc.) and offering them a la cart. I could also see them doing additional perks (DLC access, theoretical COD+ that gives you monthly virtual currency, etc.). They've already confused the product offering so why not go all out and have cable-style packages.
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ZehDon
Member
FTC's got quite the hill to climb.
It's hard to argue that Game Pass Standard isn't worse, however, arguing that Microsoft is abusing its unique position must mean that everyone else in the subscription business isn't restructuring. And that's just not true. Now, did the ABK trigger Microsoft's reshuffle? Yeah, probably. But is that an abuse of their market power, considering the pre-acquisition ABK business model remains in place, with literally any inclusion in Game Pass being a net addition? I don't see the FTC winning that argument.
Hero of Spielberg
Member
I think we're seeing a return to cable style packaging in both TV and Games. Too many subscriptions, too confusing and too little value to support them all. Same with the introduction of more 'Ad tiers' ...
We've come full circle
bender
What time is it?
I'm glad I stopped watching television in the early 2000s.
ChorizoPicozo
Member
Make them suffer.
EDIT: Imagine defending a trillion dollar company for lying and offering a worse product for more money. Some people are truly masochistic.
EDIT: Imagine defending a trillion dollar company for lying and offering a worse product for more money. Some people are truly masochistic.
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poppabk
Cheeks Spread for Digital Only Future
I swear people don't understand how much cable costs. My mother in laws cable bill (with landline phone, internet and expanded but not full TV) was over $250 a month. For that you can get cable internet, ad free Netflix, ad free hulu, gamepass, PSN+, ad free Max, amazon prime, Nintendo online and still have a bunch of money left over to spend on whatever. Also you get to choose to save money by having ads or canceling a service for a month or two if you want.
bitbydeath
Member
They removed the cheaper console tier and replaced it with Standard which is more expensive and doesn’t allow for day one games.
Dr. Wilkinson
Member
Yes you should
. Game Pass for Console included Day One games but not online multiplayer. Standard is the new Game Pass for Console tier, but without Day One games. In other words: Less things for more money.
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TropicanaTwista
Member
I mean, with the GP changes, I don't even think that is true anymore. PS+ basic tier still offers the free games every month, unlike the lowest tier of gamepass. The second tiers are also the same prices but PS+ has a larger collection of games and higher quality. The only real case is gp ultimate because of the day 1 games but even in that case, it's the most expensive tier on the market.
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Hero of Spielberg
Member
I think for a lot of older people (and people who have enough money) it's the simplicity. The idea of having to login to cancel different plans month to month for my parents is just way too much to ask.
We get the best of both worlds as they share their 'cable' with us as they get free streaming for their cable channels and we add them to our Netflix, Disney, etc. subscriptions. Foxtel which is our only cable provider also have exclusive rights to HBO, you can't even subscribe to just HBO.
I feel like I need to do subscription cull soon though. I had completely forgotten I still had Nintendo online and I haven;t played my Switch in months!
ReBurn
Gold Member
semiconscious
Member
to be fair, other sub services didn't go quite this far:
i mean, i appreciate that the ftc's nursing an ms grudge. but, put this way, it is kinda damning...
Sleepwalker
Member
MarkMe2525
Gold Member
The cheapest tier (Game Pass Core), you state it replaced, didn't include day one games either, that's why I suggested this was mainly focused on the price increase.They removed the cheaper console tier and replaced it with Standard which is more expensive and doesn’t allow for day one games.
I am aware of regular Game Pass for console including day 1, that's why I specifically referenced Game Pass core. This "new" tier is "Core" rebranded and at a higher cost.Yes you should
In other words: Less things for more money.
Edit: after looking more into the details of Game Pass Standard, it doesn't seem to be a straight rebranding of "core" as it implies that the new tier will have a larger library of games, than what was available on "core". I wasn't a big fan of "core" beforehand, and I don't find this new tier anymore attractive
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Hollowpoint5557
A Fucking Idiot
Thanks for the info there tips, although I don't remember asking for your financial advice.
I did unsubscribe. So did my two sons. That's 3 accounts they lost in the last year just from my immediate household. My boys both went to PS5, I went PC. I went from an Xbox account with over 500 games to now giving my money to Steam. My 2 boys now each pay Sony monthly and still play Roblox and Fortnite mostly. All 3 of us will be getting the PS5 Pro.
Xbox has lost its way.
sendit
Member
bro.....
brokenwatch
Member
Looks pretty degraded to me right now.
Angry_Megalodon
Gold Member
- Microsoft promised the merger wouldn't impact jobs. They fired 2000 people right after.
- Microsoft promised the merger would be "good for the market". Now they increase prices and make GP standard users look like pariahs.
Fucking shameless from these cunts but even more embarrassing is people doing mental gymnastics to justify them.
- Microsoft promised the merger would be "good for the market". Now they increase prices and make GP standard users look like pariahs.
Fucking shameless from these cunts but even more embarrassing is people doing mental gymnastics to justify them.
Exactly. Plus a lot of people knew that there was an increase coming after that abk deal.
feynoob
Banned
They could have avoided this shit by combining both pc and console version, without ea play.They removed the cheaper console tier and replaced it with Standard which is more expensive and doesn’t allow for day one games.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
Shouldn't Xbox and Game Pass fans support FTC here so they can get reduced prices?
West Texas CEO
GAF's Nicest Lunch Thief and Nosiest Dildo Archeologist
The FTC has better things to do, no?
digital_ghost
Member
Game pass twisted my arm and broke it Mr FTC. The harm done should be investigated.
Stooky
Member
.........told you. FTC won't be able prove shit. If Trump gets elected it's over. Not being negative about it, it's just something I don't think his administration would be a focused on. Just like all the FCC Internet privacy deregulation that was going on during his last term. Big Boss Business as usual
DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
"The FTC won't let me be, they tried to shut me down for being MsFT"
Hero of Spielberg
Member
Apparently there's widespread outages on various services globally due to a Crowdstrike update ... fun time for IT teams on Friday afternoon!Looks pretty degraded to me right now.
Negotiator101
Member
laynelane
Member
Shouldn't Xbox and Game Pass fans support FTC here so they can get reduced prices?
Not happening. I was once met with upset replies and reactions for simply saying I was supportive of the FTC doing its job. Lay-offs, studio closures, the fucking permanent loss of Tango, price increases, service degradation, etc. - none of it matters to some people. It will get worse over time too and the same people will keep right on defending MS.
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H-I-M
Member
Honestly, even if they don't win, it's a good thing that they're at least applying some pressure to Microsoft and that it's being reported by other media outlets.
VolticArchangel
Member
When even the FTC calls out your shit, you're truly done fucked up.
ZehDon
Member
Depends on your view, I suppose. The FTC continuing to make poorly based arguments makes the FTC look incompetent, rather than making Microsoft look bad, in my opinion.
This is like when netflix increased prices and replaced the old tier with a cheaper one with adds and locked 4k hdr into the top tier sub. Or amazon bumping prime prices but then also degrading the service with adds unless you pay to remove them. If they succeed with this I hope it carries on to other companies. I get prices will increase, but there's general inflation increases and then there is this kinda crap to try hide blatant greed.
DJ12
Member
Sony increasing the price is not removing anything from the service. Essentially MS have removed the USP from their service which is a bit different to increasing the price.
Some of you #SonyToo lot try to hard and end up talking absolute bollox as a result.
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vaibhavpisal
Member
Call of Duty is coming day 1.Shouldn't Xbox and Game Pass fans support FTC here so they can get reduced prices?
Usually gamers protesting against this stuff results in worse solutions for everyone.
If xbox one was launched as it was, everyone would be benefiting from being able to sell digital licenses. Its going to be always online future anyways.
STARSBarry
Gold Member
Because part of the agreement to allow them to buy Blizzard Activision is that it would result in a better deal for the consumer. Essentially Microsoft had to legally promise that by doing this and consolidating the largest publisher under themselves would mean that consumers would get a better deal, not worse.
Sony was not required to make such a promise because they haven't bought a giant publisher, they are allowed to fuck over the consumer because they haven't promised not too in court to let a huge deal go through.
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Daniel_Mallorca1985
Member
Also CMA
The CMA was a nightmare for Microsoft in the purchase of Activision. The British regulator returns to the scene, now because of the AI
www.xataka.com
- The United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) wants to know if the agreement between Microsoft and Inflection AI is actually a "merger"
- So he has opened a formal investigation
The CMA was a nightmare for Microsoft in the purchase of Activision. The British regulator returns to the scene, now because of the AI
La CMA fue una pesadilla para Microsoft en la compra de Activision. El regulador británico vuelve a escena, ahora por la IA
La Autoridad de Competencia y Mercados del Reino Unido (CMA) ha anunciado este martes el inicio de una investigación formal para verificar si el acuerdo entre...
www.xataka.com
- The United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) wants to know if the agreement between Microsoft and Inflection AI is actually a "merger"
- So he has opened a formal investigation
Daniel_Mallorca1985
Member
Too bad no one saw this coming.
www.ign.com
No one.
CMA Says If Microsoft Acquires Activision, Game Pass Gets More Expensive - IGN
Along with the extensive examination of Microsoft's current business practices and plans, including its advantage in cloud computing, the CMA also raised concerns about how an increased library of video game content could potentially open the door for Microsoft to make things more costly for...
No one.
