Xbox is today announcing some major changes to the Microsoft Rewards program, which includes plans to begin rolling out a "simplified Rewards experience" while also "recalibrating" how users earn Microsoft Rewards points in the future.
The first big change is that the old Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox consoles will be retired very soon, and the Weekly Sets and Weekly Streaks will be discontinued on April 15th. In their place will be a "new Weekly Bonus" in the Xbox Rewards Hub that will award users for playing a game of their choice on multiple occasions per-week.
Here are some of the other activities that will continue to earn Microsoft Rewards points on Xbox:
- Playing games on Xbox and on PC with the Xbox app for PC. This includes gaming activities available to all members and Xbox Game Pass Quests available to Game Pass members.
- Buying games and other eligible items from the Microsoft Store.
- Searching on Bing.com. Sign in to Bing with your Microsoft account and earn 5 points for every search. Limits apply.
- Taking advantage of special offers on new releases.
- Visiting the Microsoft Rewards web dashboard on Rewards.microsoft.com and completing the Daily Set.
- Players will also be able to earn Rewards for daily achievements, playing on PC, and completing Xbox Game Pass Quests.
Microsoft admits that some Xbox players "may not receive as many Rewards points initially" following this new rollout, but adjustments will be made over time and the team will "experiment often" with new activities to earn points.
We'll throw more information about this down below, courtesy of details provided to Pure Xbox by Microsoft:
"We know that previously Xbox Rewards was split across three separate experiences. The new Rewards Hub will be more streamlined for players, combining the separate rewards experiences into one convenient location. The new Rewards Hub brings together access to all offers and Xbox-related activities and will be the destination on Xbox to set goals, earn and redeem points.
With this update, we are recalibrating our Rewards points system and updating the kinds of activities players can participate in to earn rewards, so that more players will enjoy and benefit from the program. We’re always looking at how we can make gaming experiences better for players. That’s why over the coming months, you’ll see us deploying many experiments within the Rewards program to test different ways to continue improving it, including things like new ways to earn and redeem Rewards and improved player experiences."
What are your thoughts on these Microsoft Rewards changes on Xbox? Let us know in the comments.
Comments 29
double checks current streak
Phew, I'm on 39 now and have this week's to finish.
If they put half the effort into their games that they do into redesiging rewards over and over, I feel like Microsoft would be in a totally different league for gaming.
Don't worry @InterceptorAlpha, once their games make the move to PS they'll make sure that it's in a good state
Microsoft Rewards was unironically what initially motivated me to look more into Game Pass. It was shockingly generous for a rewards program and rewarded consistent engagement. Not surprised it's getting nerfed.
The whole thing's been gutted over the past year to make it much harder, and less fun, to earn points as well as increasing the cost of rewards. I've got £25 worth of points which I'll cash out and put towards BGIII or something.
It’s been nerfed heavily over the past 6+ months or so. This news doesn’t surprise me. It was probably the most generous of all rewards systems and I got many free games, DLC, and even a controller out of it for free or super cheap.
Curious if the new point structure will end up being worth the time investment… let’s hope so. Regardless, I’m happy I got to make use of Microsoft Rewards being overpowered while it was.
Someday I'll have rewards in my region, I just know it... right?
Over COVID, MS Rewards is what paid for my game pass - it's saved me honestly hundreds of pounds. I'm genuinely not surprised it's being nerfed because they gave away years of subscriptions for essentially nothing. A real shame though.
Its a bummer for sure, but it is still better than most offerings. Looks like my daily points routine will be a little shorter now. 😋
@abe_hikura I'm 18 😭 think it counts but not 100% sure if gunna but could do with next week too lmao 🤣
I sure this will mess up my daily routine but will persevere and hopefully rack up those points regardless… I’ve got New Year resolutions to honour…
I know it would never happen, but I would love it if unlocking achievements in a game also gave you points as well as gamerscore. So for example, if you unlock a 10G achievement, you get 10 points too, and so on. Like I said…. That’s wishful thinking!
Think I should get to 30 week streak before it ends. Think I am at 27 or 28 after this week.
Fingers crossed the new system isn't too bad. Wonder what will happen to the play PC game ones on the Xbox app. That is where I make over 50% of my points.
@AlwaysPlaying Hopefully. Funny. I made a resolution to cut back on my MS-Rewards click work. Trying to get to a point where just enough to cover monthly GP renewal. Guessing the change will "help". @Lup Just as soon MS nerfs it to the point where it's crap
I'm on 76 weeks. Looks like it'll end before I get my 2500 points for 80 weeks.
Translation: We at Microsoft want to give as few points as possible while giving the illusion that we actually care.
@Kloppo That was basically to be the original plan for achievements when they first started designing them. To use for DLC purchases. But as usual, greed showed up. Great idea destroyed.
Just a heads up that the irritating 15 minute delay for every 3 bing searches has been removed on browsers, so you can earn 90 to 150 points in about 5 minutes every day again (at least for me in the UK)
@Netbean Not for me here in the US. Still a 15 min delay after every 4 searches.
Never really used it when I had the xbox. I just go straight into the game and turn it off when I'm done playing.
I'm on a 97 week streak so I may take a final picture in a few weeks as it closes and I just manage to get to 100. As long as the points total is like for like can't imagine it will be too different. I know people have complained about less points but I still average over 20,000 a month even in February.
Well, maybe they'll change the absurdity of their monthly quests to something genuinely reasonable eh? Hah, yeah.
@PhileasFragg It is not so bad — the game pass achievement requirement was dropped from 45 to 36 which is reasonable. I didn't have a problem achieving it in January or February. These are rewards points, so it is not something we are entitled to or have to do; it is just an option to save some money.
If it is savings you're after, you can earn more rewards by using the other apps (Bing phone, Xbox phone, Xbox Profile Rewards Tab, MS Rewards, Bing/Edge PC search, Edge quizzes).
@Wardstone234 I'm still using the rewards for this. My GPU sub should have expired in June 2023 and instead has been extended to August 2026 and counting.
100 points for PC game online is nerfed. 20 points for PC game and 10 yes 10 points for playing on console. With no bonuses. Bad day for rewards.
My current 174 week streak means no extra points when it ends. Will keep doing whatever comes next. Points are points and I've not had to pay for Game Pass for 3 years now (and good till 2027.)
Oh well. I jinxed it when I mentioned the points for playing PC games on the app. Barely worth firing up a PC for 20 points now vs 275 up until yesterday.
I see today they nerfed the play a game weekly from 500 to 250 and they completely removed the Jewel daily for 60 points. I guess that’s what they think “listening to us” is. Clowns
You mention the Reddit Xbox rewards page here but don't leave a link to it.. why not? Wouldn't that help your readers to get to the page your using for your info so they can see more info from the source. I like your articles but I would definitely like links to the Reddit page or other reddit pages in some of your articles. Thank you.
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