US Xbox Live Rewards program begins

By Robert Purchese Published 3 November, 2009

Earn points for subscribing, buying.

The Xbox Live Rewards pilot program has begun, offering North American residents Microsoft Points for renewing Gold subscriptions and purchasing Xbox 360 content online.

An annual Gold membership renewal Rewards 200 Microsoft Points (£1.70), while month-by-month subscribers earn only 10 MSP (9 pence) a month (to a maximum of 60 MSP or 50 pence).

There are 100 Microsoft Points (85 pence) offered for the first XBL item bought, and the same amount for anyone participating in Microsoft surveys.

For every month subscribed to Xbox Live Gold, Microsoft will offer one per cent MSP cash-back. After five months, you'll have amassed the maximum of five per cent MSP cash-back on every XBL purchase made.

The Xbox website has a full list of Rewards.

This service is unconfirmed for Europe. We're checking with Microsoft.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (9) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • BigE0n #1 2 years ago

    Or just lower the MSP price of all the offerings?

  • bad09 #2 2 years ago

    I'm not renewing mine at the end of the year and I don't think the hope of 200 points at the end of 2010 would change that :)

  • Toothball #3 2 years ago

    My Live account is just about to renew, so if they do bring this over I'll probably miss that one this year. I guess this is basically a digital loyalty card, since physical stores are offering them more and more frequently these days. At least with this one you don't have to remember to give them your card when you go to pay.

  • homerramone #4 2 years ago

    Hmmm... get £1.70 back or pay £10 less... can I phone a friend ?

  • nuanimal #5 2 years ago

    Errr... is it me... or is that the gaming equivalent of a precarious financial investment product, with limited returns compared to required amount of capital initially deposited?

    Online gaming hedge funds next!

  • dirk_aircool #6 2 years ago

    Its forUS not europe/UK as sodding usual we pay more and get less.

  • kipper #7 2 years ago

    Shop online for your Gold subscription and you will instantly save about a third off the official price of Gold.
    Compare that to this loyalty scheme and you will see the MS program is really nothing to write home about (even if it ever arrives in Europe).

  • Collymilad #8 2 years ago

    An arcade game every 4 years.

    That is pathetic. MS, why bother?

  • sjmlondon #9 2 years ago

    Derisory offer really and as someone else just said quite pointless.

    Renew your subscription automatically with Microsoft and pay the full £39.99 just to earn a few pence back or take 2 minutes and have a look on ebay. There are companies selling xbox live 12 month memberships for under £27. I've just bought one and the code was emailed almost instantly and works fine. Saving £13+. Much better value.

    If we have to pay for Xbox live and, as it is a good service, I'd still rather pay £27 than the full £39.99 if Microsoft just debit your account when it's due.

    That £13 saving can be spent on some more overpriced dlc so they'll get it back anyway.