New FTC Lawsuit against Microsoft claims Game Pass price increase as consumer detriment as previously warned.

After Microsoft’s victory over the FTC in the court last year, they were able to successfully acquire Activision Blizzard. However, the FTC is now filing a new lawsuit (9th round) against Microsoft in the United States court.

The FTC’s letter this time raised concerns about the price increase of Game Pass and cutting games that are playable from the first day of release from Game Pass Console subscribers, which they see as consumer harm from the merger warned by the FTC before.

The FTC stated that the increased membership price of Game Pass combined with Microsoft’s reduced investment in game quality through employee layoffs is seen as using market power post-merger.

The FTC further stated that Microsoft’s actions in this case are contrary to the promises made that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard would benefit consumers by making games like Call of Duty available to play on Game Pass (without any price increase after the merger is completed).

Source – The Verge and VGC

TLDR: Microsoft faces new FTC lawsuit over Game Pass price increase and game quality concerns post-Activision Blizzard acquisition, going against promises made to consumers.