Microsoft Rewards Makes Some Unannounced Price Changes

08.03.2024 - 02:06 / gamerant.com

To the surprise of its users, Microsoft Rewards has undergone some unexpected price changes in the past few days related to gift cards. This change by Microsoft is only one of many made to the program within the last year that users found out about the hard way.

The Microsoft Rewards program allows users to accumulate points by completing quests they can then exchange for games, gift cards, Game Pass memberships, and even charitable donations. In early 2023, Microsoft announced impending changes for the rewards program following issues tracking player achievements, at first making it easier for users to earn points. By the end of the year, however, participants noticed a steep drop in the amount of points certain tasks were worth.

As per PureXbox, it now seems Microsoft has made adjustments to the currency conversion for points earned through Microsoft Rewards for gift cards, with users seeing either a decrease or an increase in the monetary value of their points depending on what region they live in. Participants living in Canada, Australia, and Norway have reported now needing fewer points than previously required to earn gift cards of the same value, but for users everywhere else, the situation is not as positive.

Many Microsoft Rewards program participants in regions of the world that have seen points decrease in value are less than pleased. One of the perks of the Microsoft Rewards program is the ability to rack up points to go towards larger purchases like consoles, but users who had been saving their points for a rainy day are wishing they'd cashed them in while the monetary value had been higher. Microsoft had put out no announcement prior to the change.

This is not the first time Microsoft has been less than transparent about changes to the Microsoft Rewards program. But while plenty of users are frustrated by the change and the impact it has on their future purchases, some Microsoft Rewards participants are less concerned about the fluctuating value. For them, participation in the program is still worth the effort, considering it continues to provide them with free or discounted items.

There is some worry among Microsoft Rewards users that all the changes being made may signal the beginning of the end for the program. Notably, Microsoft laid off a staggering 1,900 employees in January 2024 across its video game divisions. Included in the layoffs were employees of Activision Blizzard, the company acquired by Microsoft in late 2023 for $68.7 billion. However, time will tell what the future holds for Microsoft Rewards.

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