Curious as to why last year I was able to use turbo tax free edition, but this year, no matter how hard I tried, I was only recommended and forced to pay basic edition?

I have proof of using turbo tax free edition last year, and then further proof of trying to use that same edition for the recent tax filing, but turbo tax forced turbo tax basic on me as if it was the only and cheapest option. And before that, I had already gotten myself out of paying for the turbo tax deluxe live edition that they trick you into using, and then at the very end you see you have to pay for all this stuff you didn’t even use. All I did was file a W2, so why was I forced to pay? Am I not wrong in thinking filing W2 is free?