The FTC's Response to Game Pass Price Hike: "We Told You So"
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) remains determined to challenge the court's decision in the lost case against the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard merger. On July 18th, the regulator cited the software giant's recent announcement regarding the Game Pass price increase and the introduction of a new, game-free subscription tier.
According to the FTC, Microsoft is not keeping its promises and is tarnishing its own reputation among gamers. The commission staff argues that the company is reducing the quality of its services, a concern they raised before the merger.
The FTC also drew attention to the timing of the Game Pass price change announcement, which came just before the release of the new Call of Duty. The regulator alleges that Microsoft is deliberately cutting investments and closing studios, abusing its market dominance in the wake of the merger.
This isn't the first time the FTC has criticized Microsoft this year. Previously, they condemned the company following a series of large-scale layoffs affecting several studios in 2024, including the creators of Hi-Fi Rush and the developers of Dishonored.
