Xbox Fans Fume: Microsoft Rewards Cuts Spark Widespread Outrage as Points Plummet

A storm is brewing in the Xbox community, and it's not a new game announcement. Instead, it's a wave of widespread frustration directed squarely at Microsoft, as the company continues to devalue its much-loved Microsoft Rewards program. What was once hailed as a generous perk for loyal users is now seen by many as a stingy shadow of its former self, with point earnings plummeting to new lows and fan anger reaching a fever pitch.

The latest blow, and perhaps the most significant, comes in the form of drastically slashed points for simply using the Bing search engine – a core component of earning daily rewards.

Both PC and mobile searches have seen their point values gutted, making the daily grind for points feel increasingly unrewarding. For years, these simple actions provided a steady stream of points that users could accumulate for valuable rewards like Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, Xbox Gift Cards, or even entries into sweepstakes.

Now, the effort required versus the paltry return has many questioning if it's even worth their time.

This isn't an isolated incident; it follows a disheartening pattern of steady devaluation that has plagued the program over the past year. Earlier adjustments saw the removal of points for unlocking achievements, a feature that celebrated gaming milestones and encouraged engagement.

Other regional point earning opportunities have also vanished, leaving users feeling short-changed and increasingly disenfranchised. The cumulative effect of these nerfs is a program that feels less like a reward and more like a chore with diminishing returns.

The sentiment across social media and gaming forums, particularly Reddit, is overwhelmingly negative.

Threads are brimming with users sharing their disappointment, expressing feelings of betrayal, and lamenting the "getting worse all the time" nature of the deal. Many long-time users recall a golden age of Microsoft Rewards where accumulating enough points for a significant redemption was a much more achievable feat.

The current state, they argue, makes such goals feel distant and unattainable without an unreasonable time investment.

For many, Microsoft Rewards was a tangible way to offset the cost of gaming. Earning enough points for a month of Game Pass Ultimate, or even contributing towards the purchase of a new game, provided a genuine sense of value.

With points now harder to come by, these benefits are becoming increasingly out of reach, forcing players to dig deeper into their pockets. The move is seen by some as a subtle push to make users pay more for services they once could partially "earn" through engagement.

As points dwindle and the path to free rewards becomes ever steeper, the question looms: what is the future of Microsoft Rewards? Will the program continue its downward spiral, or will Microsoft heed the growing chorus of disgruntled fans? For now, the overwhelming sentiment among the Xbox faithful is one of frustration and a feeling that a once-generous loyalty program is rapidly losing its luster.