Published Feb 18, 2026, 9:22 AM EST
Nicholas Becher is a gaming journalist with an MFA in Creative Writing from FAU. With extensive experience playing video games, he covers all forms of gaming content at Screen Rant, from breaking news to the latest fan theories. Most-played games range from Clair Obscur to Civ to Elden Ring to Halo 2 and beyond.
Xbox gamers have had a tumultuous few months, with a recent restructuring of Xbox Game Pass that resulted in hidden price hikes that simply left a bad taste in many subscribers' mouths. Unfortunately, it looks like Xbox users are getting hit in the wallets yet again, this time with an unexpected—and fans would argue, outrageous—price increase.
According to reports from users on Reddit, Microsoft Rewards has recently implemented a change that increases the point cost of Gift Card redemptions for gamers worldwide. For example, a $10 Xbox Gift Card that used to cost just 9500 Microsoft Points now comes in at 10,000 Microsoft Points, and gamers are not happy.
Xbox Is Raising The Price Of Its Gift Cards
Fans Fret Over Another Blatant Cash Grab
Unfortunately for Xbox gamers, hidden price increases have become par for the course in recent months, with Xbox Game Pass's restructuring last year that resulted in bumping up the cost for monthly and yearly memberships. Further, new reports suggest that the PC Game Pass tier will be disappearing in the coming months as well, which will also result in a hidden price increase.
If that wasn't enough, Xbox gamers can expect additional hidden costs this year in the form of the increased Series X/S console prices, as well as higher tabs for Premium upgrades on certain games like Forza 6. Many players are feeling dejected by these brazen cash grabs that are often taking place behind the scenes, and even the most dedicated Xbox players are starting to question their allegiances.
Microsoft Rewards points and the program in general are a staple for Xbox gamers that incentivize players to come back to the platform, but raising the redemption cost without any announcement or warning simply rubs some fans the wrong way, with players like quinoa saying, "it’s sincerely wack as hell to not give people a heads up it’s happening" and mustyfiber90 saying, "what a joke."
Gamers Aren't Thrilled With This Development
Where Does It End?
While it's understandable that external factors are going to result in subtle price increases on things like Microsoft Rewards redemption values, etc., but the more egregious part is that Xbox and Microsoft have displayed a pattern of implementing hidden costs without notifying users of the changes.
While it may be an effective method of increasing profits and passing the cost of inflation and tariffs on to the consumer, Xbox is slowly bleeding out its user-base and losing the public trust with each small betrayal. Fans will start to wonder where it ends, and they're likely not willing to stick around if it feels like Xbox is picking their pockets around every turn.
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