Microsoft Rewards Is Making Big Changes to Xbox Game Pass

We all know how great the Microsoft Rewards program is for earning free Xbox gift cards and Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, but when it comes to the latter, it looks like things are going to get worse in the near future.

Before we get to the pricing changes, Microsoft announced today that the automatic redemption feature for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass will be gone starting August 12, but the wording of the announcement is a bit confusing. In fact, part of the wording seems to indicate that Microsoft Rewards will be ditching Xbox Game Pass altogether…

“The auto-redeem feature for your Game Pass subscription will be discontinued. Important changes will be made to the auto-redeem functionality for your Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription. Effective 8/12/2024, you will no longer be allowed to use your rewards points to fund your Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscriptions. If you would like to choose another service to use rewards points for auto-redeem, please visit the rewards catalog.”

Microsoft Rewards users currently believe that this is unclear, and that the automatic redemption feature is what will disappear. However, no one can say for sure until Microsoft provides a more detailed explanation.

Regardless of what happens after August 12, it looks like Xbox Game Pass redemption prices will be going up in the meantime. According to one Microsoft Rewards fan, they’ve received notice of some price increases in the US:

We hate to say it, but this is another situation where Microsoft hasn’t been very transparent about what exactly is going on, and we’re wondering if Xbox Game Pass will be completely abandoned by Microsoft Rewards in a month. Hopefully not — we’ll let you know when there’s confirmation anyway.