Key Takeaways
1. Microsoft Rewards will no longer allow points to be redeemed for Xbox Game Pass subscriptions starting October 1st.
2. Users will need to purchase Xbox gift cards, which require more points than before (e.g., $20 gift card costs 19,000 points versus 12,000 points for one month of Game Pass Ultimate).
3. Earning Microsoft Rewards points has become more difficult, with longer wait times and fewer opportunities to accumulate points.
4. There are concerns about potential price increases for Xbox Game Pass tiers, with hints of rising costs based on recent source code findings.
5. Microsoft plans a large sales event in October, likely featuring discounts on Xbox gift cards, but many gamers feel disappointed by the reduced value of their saved points.
The Microsoft Rewards program is slowly becoming less rewarding for its users. Recently, a new letdown has emerged: members will soon be unable to use their points to get Xbox Game Pass subscriptions. While Microsoft hasn’t formally announced this yet, numerous gamers have seen the same message on their rewards dashboards.
Changes Coming Soon
This alteration is set to start on October 1st, and Microsoft is advising players to buy Xbox gift cards instead. These cards can then be used to help cover the costs of Game Pass. Sadly, many gamers will find that they need to use more points to pay for their subscriptions. For instance, according to one Reddit user, a $20 gift card costs 19,000 points. In contrast, it used to be possible to redeem just 12,000 points for one month of Game Pass Ultimate.
Earning Points is Tougher
There are various ways for gamers to earn Microsoft Rewards, like completing quests in Xbox Game Pass titles. However, many fans feel that their hard work is going unnoticed. It now takes longer to gather points, and the chances to earn them have decreased.
Rising Prices on the Horizon?
In addition to these changes, there are worries about possible price hikes for Xbox Game Pass tiers. The last increase happened in July 2024. Although Microsoft hasn’t confirmed any upcoming increases for 2025, there have been hints of more bad news. In June, Better xCloud discovered source code suggesting that subscription prices might go up. Xbox consoles have already seen a significant price rise, and the services linked to them could follow suit.
With the recent updates to the Microsoft Rewards program, many gamers are looking for discounts on Xbox gift cards. In October, Microsoft is planning a large sales event that will probably feature Xbox cards. Still, players who have saved points are noticing that there are fewer appealing ways to use them.
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