Microsoft Rewards appears to have quietly increased the number of points required to redeem Xbox gift cards, catching users off guard mid-grind. The change makes the loyalty program a significantly worse proposition for those who use it to offset the cost of Xbox games, downloadable content and subscriptions.
Microsoft Rewards underwent a variety of changes throughout 2025, introducing new features and rewards, taking away some old ones, and even reintroducing a few. However, the overall public perception of the recent changes skews negative, with users repeatedly flagging reduced earning value and higher redemption costs across different parts of the catalog.
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Microsoft Rewards Makes Xbox Gift Cards More Expensive in Multiple Regions
A recent influx of social media reports indicates that Microsoft has increased the number of points required to redeem Xbox gift cards through its loyalty program in mid-February 2026. In the U.S., for example, some users report that a $10 card now costs 10,000 points. Similar changes have been observed in several other countries, including the U.K., Canada, and Germany. Be that as it may, the adjustment does not appear to have been implemented globally. In fact, it may not have even been implemented nationally, as GameRant stumbled on several examples of lower Xbox gift card prices (in the 9,300–9,500 point range) while cycling through U.S. VPN servers. The criteria guiding the rollout remain unclear.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Microsoft has not publicly acknowledged the pricing changes. While the company does not typically issue announcements when adjusting Microsoft Rewards redemption rates for the worse, the lack of communication has nonetheless frustrated some users, who voiced their annoyance on Reddit and Bluesky. Others said they were close to accumulating enough points for a gift card just before the change took effect, criticizing Microsoft for moving the goalposts. Microsoft has previously acknowledged that Rewards redemption methods can be adjusted over time, with one particular company statement characterizing such changes as regular “tuning.”
A vocal segment of the Microsoft Rewards community has grown increasingly frustrated with the program over the past year, and that dissatisfaction is now largely fueling the current backlash. Many vocal users say they do not view the latest change as a one-off adjustment, but rather just the latest in a long list of moves aimed at improving Microsoft’s margins. That big-picture trend is also the reason Microsoft Rewards points can no longer be used to redeem Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, which have been pulled from the reward pool on October 1, 2025. While it’s still possible to earn a Game Pass sub via the program, that can now only be done indirectly, i.e., by first redeeming an Xbox gift card and then using it to order a new membership.
To put the recent changes in context, Microsoft Rewards still offers a range of redemption options beyond Xbox gift cards, though the relative value of many of these rewards has shifted alongside the rising point costs. As of this writing, users can still redeem points in exchange for virtual currency in live-service games such as Roblox, League of Legends, Overwatch, and Sea of Thieves.
In addition to direct credit and gift card options, Microsoft Rewards members can use points for entries into sweepstakes and contests, often themed around major product launches or seasonal campaigns. Some participants also choose to donate their points to charitable causes through partnered organizations, offering a way to convert accumulated rewards into social impact. The current lineup of supported charities varies by country, but Save the Children, Care, and the International Rescue Committee appear to be among the most geographically prevalent options right now.
Source: Pure Xbox
