Xbox Game Pass Discounts Slashed, Replaced with Rewards Points System
Microsoft has eliminated the 10 percent discount on DLC and in-game purchases for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, replacing it with a revised rewards program offering points instead. The change, confirmed to IGN, arrives alongside recent price increases for the subscription service, further impacting the value proposition for players.
previously,Game Pass subscribers received a direct discount on expansions and add-on content for games within the Game Pass library.Microsoft now states the shift is due to improvements in the Xbox Rewards program,aiming to offer more value through points accumulation. Ultimate and Premium subscribers will now earn 5 or 10 percent in Rewards points on select game and add-on purchases from the Game Pass library, and increased points on other Xbox Store purchases. Ultimate subscribers retain a 20 percent discount on games in Game Pass.
These points can be redeemed for games and DLC, but remain within the Xbox ecosystem. While offering a path to savings, the system effectively ties users to future purchases within the Microsoft ecosystem rather than providing immediate monetary savings.
The move follows a recent price hike for Xbox Game Pass,with the Ultimate tier now costing €26.99 per month. Microsoft is reportedly testing a free, ad-supported tier of Xbox Cloud Gaming, as reported by The Verge, which would allow players to stream selected games with limitations – two minutes of advertising before play, and a cap of one hour per session with a monthly limit of five hours. Details of this potential offering are subject to change.
