The changes, including price increases across all tiers and the elimination of the popular Game Pass for Console plan, have ignited a firestorm of criticism. Even the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a say about the new tier.
Xbox Game Pass Price Increases and Tier Changes
(Photo : Rama Laksono from Unsplash) Microsoft rolled out the new Xbox Game Pass Standard Tier. However, gamers were quick to criticize it following FTC's hot take that it's a "degraded product."
A key point of contention is the introduction of the Game Pass Standard as a replacement for the beloved Game Pass for Console. While the new tier is priced higher, it notably excludes day-one releases, a feature that was a cornerstone of the original plan. This shift has left many gamers feeling shortchanged.
"Microsoft is offering a new service tier, Game Pass Standard, which offers access to hundreds of back-catalogue games, and multiplayer functionality," the software maker said in a statement.
Adding fuel to the fire, the US Federal Trade Commission has weighed in on the controversy.
According to a report by Tom's Hardware, the FTC claims that Xbox's acquisition of Activision Blizzard has led to the deliberate degradation of the Game Pass service. The commission argues that the new tier structure is a prime example of this alleged decline in product quality.
Xbox Fires Back at FTC Allegations
Naturally, Xbox has vehemently denied the FTC's accusations. The company insists that the new Game Pass tiers offer enhanced value to gamers, particularly highlighting the inclusion of online multiplayer in the Standard tier.
Microsoft contends that the FTC's focus on day-one releases is misguided and that the overall package provides better value.
A Battle of Perception
The truth of the matter likely lies somewhere between these two opposing viewpoints. Whether the new Game Pass structure represents a net gain or loss for gamers is largely a matter of individual preferences and gaming habits.
Those who prioritize online multiplayer and have less interest in playing the latest games may find the Standard tier to be a cost-effective option, UK-based digital newspaper The Sun reports. Conversely, gamers who eagerly anticipate new releases will undoubtedly be disappointed by the removal of day-one access.
As the dust settles on this controversy, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact Xbox's subscriber base and overall reputation within the gaming industry.
Last week, Xbox Live was hit by a sudden service outage. The downtime lasted for three hours and it was said to be linked to the global CrowdStrike issue that shut down millions of Windows PC and laptops through the "blue screen of death" or BSOD.
The Microsoft outage affected all servers connected to them and even several infrastructures in other parts of the world including airlines, tech hubs, and more.
