Bold claim: Microsoft quietly raises the cost of Xbox gift cards when redeemed with Microsoft Rewards points, catching users off guard across several regions. And this is the part most people miss: the change comes with little to no upfront notice, leaving many fans confused about regional pricing and discount stacks.
Microsoft Rewards users have recently noticed an uptick in the points required to claim Xbox gift cards. After last year’s move to remove direct Rewards point redemption for Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, Microsoft has now made Xbox gift cards pricier when purchased with Rewards points.
The price hike appears to have rolled out across multiple regions overnight. One user reported that a £25 Xbox gift card, which previously cost around 29,445 points, jumped to 30,995 points. Similar observations have circulated online, with others confirming increases in their own regions.
Reddit discussions show users from the US, UK, Canada, Europe, Australia, Brazil, and beyond reporting higher point costs for Xbox gift cards. Because regional pricing and tiered discounts complicate things, it’s tricky to pin down an exact percentage increase. Still, early signals suggest roughly a 5.3% rise in both the US and the UK. For example, a $10 gift card in the US used to be priced at 9,500 points with a level-2 discount; it’s now listed at 10,000 points. In the UK, a £10 gift card went from 11,780 points to 12,400 points. (Note: I don’t have direct access to US pricing, so these numbers reflect reports from across the web.)
The broader impact is more than just higher prices. The lack of a formal announcement from the Microsoft Rewards team is the aspect that irks many users the most. A straightforward communication would go a long way toward clarity and reducing confusion among members who rely on points for their purchases.
What do you think about this change? Are you seeing the same price bumps in your region? Share your country and experiences in the comments.
If you missed it, a new Game Pass Quest was introduced earlier this month, giving members another task to complete for potential rewards.
Source note: Coverage aggregated from user reports across platforms, with context about regional pricing and discount tiers.
Written by Sean Carey
Sean is a longtime Xbox enthusiast and TrueAchievements writer who enjoys chasing achievements across RPGs, racing games, and shooters on Xbox Game Pass. He studied journalism at Solent University before joining TrueAchievements.
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