Xbox Game Pass Loses Direct Discounts on DLC, Shifts to Rewards System
REDMOND, WA – October 3, 2025 – Xbox Game Pass subscribers are facing a change to their benefits package as Microsoft has removed a longstanding 10% discount on downloadable content (DLC) and in-game purchases. The alteration, part of a broader overhaul of the Game Pass subscription service, shifts savings towards a new, tiered rewards program.
Previously, Game Pass members could save on expansions like Order of Giants for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Shattered Space for Starfield. They also received discounts on game currency, such as Call of Duty Points. These direct price reductions are now unavailable.
According to Microsoft’s announcement regarding the Game Pass changes, subscribers will now earn rewards points-perhaps up to 30% value-on select Game Pass games and add-ons. The company states players can earn “four times as many points on the purchase of games and additions, 10 percent back in points on selected Game pass games and additions and up to 20 percent discount on selected Game Pass games.”
The change comes amidst a wider price increase for Game Pass subscriptions, sparking backlash from the gaming community. On Wednesday, the Game Pass cancellation page reportedly experienced outages as users attempted to end their subscriptions following Microsoft’s announcement. Many subscribers are questioning the value proposition of the service with the increased cost and altered benefits.
This shift impacts the approximately 25 million Xbox Game Pass subscribers worldwide, altering how they access and pay for additional content within games they already have access to through their subscription. The move signals a strategic adjustment by Microsoft, prioritizing a rewards-based system over direct discounts for Game Pass content.
