The Redmond-based tech giant has responded to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which is not happy that Xbox Game Pass has become more expensive despite promises to the contrary.

Tom Warren of The Verge reports that after the FTC filed a complaint following the Game Pass price hike, Microsoft also filed a letter with the court. According to the company, the cheapest Game Pass subscription tier for consoles offers more value to subscribers because even though you have to pay three dollars more per month, you get access to multiplayer features that would otherwise cost $10 per month by default. Let’s see what Microsoft’s response letter says:

“Earlier this month, Microsoft announced changes to its Game Pass subscription service to provide consumers with valuable options at different price points. Microsoft is offering a new service tier, Game Pass Standard, which provides access to hundreds of back-catalog games and [emphasis theirs] multiplayer functionality for $14.99 per month. It is incorrect to call this a “downgraded” version of the discontinued Game Pass for Console offering. That discontinued product did not include multiplayer, which had to be purchased separately for an additional $9.99/month (for a total cost of $20.98/month). While the price of Game Pass ultimate will increase from $16.99 to $19.99/month, the service will offer more value with many new games available ‘day-and-date,'” Microsoft wrote.

It’s a bit anachronistic that Microsoft and Sony are both charging money to get online multiplayer in all their games. It’s not 2006-2007, it’s 2024. It’s free on the PC, so consoles are at a disadvantage there. The $10 savings is a bit funny, because Microsoft gave the mandatory cost. And the $21 value for the Game Pass for Console + Xbox Live pair is especially so because it’s only a dollar away from the new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Anyway, the answer to the question in the title is no.

Source: PCGamer