Microsoft Rewards Just Made Xbox Game Pass Way More Expensive!

Summary

  • Microsoft Rewards could soon undergo point requirement increases for Xbox Game Pass redemptions, as per official emails sent to some users.
  • Under the new Microsoft Rewards pricing structure, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate requires nearly 42 percent more points to redeem, whereas PC Game Pass demands a 35 percent premium.
  • Level 1 Microsoft Rewards members may have to pay even more.

Users relying on the “auto redeem” feature to keep their Xbox Game Pass subscriptions at no cost might experience a notable alteration soon. It appears that an increase in the price for Xbox Game Pass redemptions via Microsoft Rewards is being considered, and it could be enforced within the next few months based on recent communication sent to certain members.

Over the years, Microsoft Rewards has served as a useful asset for both Xbox and PC gamers, enabling them to gather points through tasks like searches, quizzes, and various activities. These points could then be traded in for Game Pass subscriptions as an alternative to using real money. The auto-redeem feature made it effortless for committed players to maintain their subscriptions without spending actual cash. As of now, a month’s subscription for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass required 12,000 points and 7,750 points, respectively. However, users might soon find themselves paying substantially more than this amount.

Microsoft has made it official that there will be an increase in the cost of Xbox Game Pass redemptions for some members in the UK, starting around April 20, 2025. This is evident as two new redemption options have appeared in the “redeem” section of the UK Microsoft Rewards portal, which require significantly more points for the service. Specifically, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now requires 17,000 points (an increase of 41.6%) and PC Game Pass has increased to 10,500 points (a rise of 35.4%).

Increased Xbox Game Pass Point Requirements for Microsoft Rewards UK Users

  • Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: 17,000 points (41.6 percent higher)
  • PC Game Pass: 10,500 points (35.4 percent higher)

As of now, the old redemption system is still active, but it seems that cheaper auto-redeem options will no longer be available starting April 20. Users will need to resubscribe manually under the new pricing plan instead. Additionally, there’s a concern about increased prices for Microsoft Rewards members, as Level 2 members (who use the service more often) will be affected by these price hikes. This means that Level 1 members could see an even larger increase in points needed for Xbox Game Pass redemptions. Lastly, it is worth noting that these changes may differ across regions initially, but they might become universal over time.

As a devoted Microsoft Rewards user, I’ve noticed that accumulating 17,000 points per month might be quite challenging for many of us given the current rewards structure. This has sparked discussions among users about whether Microsoft will revise its earnings system or if we may need to invest real money to sustain our subscriptions. So far, the company hasn’t responded to this issue, but it’s worth mentioning that price adjustments in Microsoft Rewards haven’t been unheard of and have often caught us by surprise.

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2025-02-22 23:24