Xbox LIVE Rewards Program

We don't work for Microsoft - they did not pay us to tell you about this - we are providing this information because if you are an Xbox 360 / Xbox One gamer and you are paying for DLC and expansion content anyway - or in the case of the Xbox One you are purchasing digital versions of games via the LIVE Marketplace then it makes total sense for you to join the LIVE Rewards Program. Not joining is like throwing money away!

The Xbox LIVE Rewards Program & Gamerscore / Achievements

The Achievements System under Xbox LIVE is a value-added rewards that game studios are required to build into each game that they release for the Xbox 360 / Xbox One that must comply with a minimum set of guidelines offering a predictable measure of additional game content.

For the longest time the Gamerscore that is the backbone of the Achievement System had no real value or function -- but when Microsoft launched the Xbox LIVE Rewards Program on 1 December 2010 we found ourselves constantly marveling that it was December 1, and not April 1, but there you have it!

To put the nut on this bolt, under the Xbox LIVE Rewards Program, the Gamerscore (G) that a gamer maintains actually has a real impact on the rewards scheme.

Specifically the G has been inducted into what is for all intents and purposes a Loyalty Rewards Program, that rewards gamers for a number of actions -- such as renewing their Xbox LIVE Gold Membership Subscription Term, for playing games via the LIVE Network, and for utilizing the Xbox Live features, like its communications system, its game and expansion store, and its entertainment offerings... and most startling of all, unlocking Achievements in games and reaching targeted levels of Gamerscore (G)!

Under the current scheme (since the retirement of the Microsoft Points System) gamers must accumulate a minimum of 5,000 points, at which time the reward is then deposited into the player's Account on LIVE.

The good news is that the points do not expire, so gamers can take as long as they take to reach that total -- and once they do and the points are added to their account, they can then be used for the purchase of games and/or DLC or expansion content or any other content that can be purchased via the points subsystem (including movie rentals).

In terms of G, the higher your standing in Gamerscore the better your rewards end up being -- in fact they have created a basic criteria for judging you in terms of your Gamerscore:

Contender = 3,000G to 9,999G. (Every $10 you spend is worth 50 Rewards Points).

Champion = 10,000G to 24,999G. (Every $10 you spend is worth 100 Rewards Points).

Legend = 25,000G to 74,999G. (Every $10 you spend is worth 200 Rewards Points).

Master = 75,000+G. (Every $10 you spend is worth 300 Rewards Points).

So for the first time in the history of the Achievements / Gamerscore Program there is substantially more at stake than simple bragging rights. So if you are a new Xbox / LIVE gamer you should know that the Xbox LIVE Rewards Program is NOT an automatic program.

To participate you actually have to sign up and must specifically join with your Gamertag in order to participate and hey, we think you should!

If you have not yet opted-in or signed up head over to the Rewards Webpage and follow the sign-up instructions to get started today!

The Program can be joined via: https://rewards.xbox.com/

There is a program FAQ available at: http://rewards.xbox.com/faq/

You can see your current standing at: https://rewards.xbox.com/myrewards/

So hey get cracking mates!