Xbox Game Pass Subscribers Just Got Even More Depressing News

Xbox Game Pass subscribers are starting to receive messages from Microsoft stating that they will no longer be able to use Rewards points to fund their subscriptions. Xbox Game Pass subscribers have had a rough time as of late. This past week, Microsoft announced a massive change to Xbox Game Pass tiers, removing major day one games from base Game Pass (now known as “Standard’) and making it so said titles are only available to those who sign up for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has always been a no-brainer for Xbox users anyway, as not only does it include Game Pass, but it also gives subscribers access to the EA Play library, PC Game Pass titles, and all the benefits that were once associated with Xbox Live Gold, like online multiplayer. But Microsoft didn’t just decide to lock major day one games behind Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. It also raised the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $19.99 per month. Needless to say, these changes have upset the Xbox Game Pass community, and now they have something else to be worried about.

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As reported by Pure Xbox, some Xbox Game Pass subscribers have started receiving troubling emails from Microsoft about how they will soon no longer be able to use their Microsoft Rewards points to fund Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscriptions. The message explicitly states, “As of 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,” and it also mentions how auto-redeem for said subscriptions is being discontinued. However, other users have claimed to have received a different notice about how the prices for the subscriptions are being raised to 12,000 points for auto-redeem, 15,000 for one month, and 44,000 points for three months. The communication right now is inconsistent, but it’s bad news for Game Pass subscribers either way.

Xbox Game Pass May Be Leaving Microsoft Rewards

For the uninitiated, Xbox gamers have been able to use Microsoft Rewards points on Game Pass for years. As long as one has been vigilant about completing their Microsoft Rewards tasks every day, people have effectively been able to get Game Pass for free. While it’s disappointing, it would make sense for Microsoft to end this practice, especially in the wake of the price increase, as it clearly seems to be getting aggressive about making Game Pass more of a financial success. It wants people to be signed up for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and beyond that, it wants people to actually be paying for it with real money.

Time will tell exactly what happens with Xbox Game Pass and Microsoft Rewards. Regardless, it’s been a sad time for Xbox Game Pass lately. Hopefully, major upcoming day one Game Pass games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl can help relieve the pain a bit.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the highest tier of Microsoft’s flagship game subscription service that offers over 100 game titles that you can play with a single purchase, making it one of the most outstanding value propositions of the Xbox ecosystem to date.