Xbox Live Rewards program launches

[UPDATE] Microsoft unveils invite-only program that lets XBL Gold subscribers get MS points for renewing subscriptions, taking surveys, buying items on XBL Marketplace.

After weeks of rumors, Microsoft has officially taken the wraps off of its Club Nintendo-like rewards pilot program for Xbox Live users. Called the Xbox Live Rewards Squad, the program is invite-only, and participants began receiving invitations on November 2. It will continue through the end of April 2010.

Membership has its privileges. Not big privileges, but still…

As outlined on the program's official Xbox.com page, Xbox Live Rewards Squad will dole out rewards to both Silver- and Gold-level subscribers of the Xbox 360's online service. However, it will be heavily weighted to favor the latter, who will be rewarded with Microsoft points merely for renewing their subscriptions to the premium service.

Each one-month XBL Gold renewal will net participants 10 Microsoft points ($0.125 in US dollars) up to a maximum of MSP60 ($0.75). Each three-month renewal will garner MSP30 ($0.375) up to a maximum of MSP60 ($0.75), while a 12-month renewal will net MSP200 ($2.50). Xbox Live Silver members will get no reward for signing up to Live, which costs $49.99 per year.

Microsoft is also offering incentives to buy items on Xbox Live Marketplace. Both Gold and Silver subscribers will get MSP100 ($1.25) for their first XBLM purchase. Gold subscribers who continue to buy items get 1 percent of their purchases during the first month, 2 percent the second, 3 percent the third, 4 percent the fourth, and 5 percent for the fifth and sixth months of the pilot program.

Non-Netflix subscribers will also receive MSP200 ($2.50) for subscribing to the soon-to-be console-agnostic video streaming service through Xbox Live. According to the legal fine print, the subscription must be maintained for at least one month. Microsoft is also offering both Silver and Gold Xbox Live Rewards Squad participants MSP100 ($1.25) each time they answer a survey.

[UPDATE] One question Microsoft reps are not answering is how one is picked for the program or how one could sign up. In response to requests for clarification about the pilot program's selection process, Microsoft only offered the following statement:

"The Xbox Live Rewards Web site is part of a pilot program we're testing with a small group from our global Xbox Live community. We are always exploring new ways to provide the most value to our members, but have nothing to announce about a public program at this time."

226 Comments

  • insanitycheck10

    Posted Dec 2, 2009 4:31 pm GMT

    go Xbox live

  • majikninja69

    Posted Nov 8, 2009 6:48 am GMT

    yer i see this as 1 step forward, 5 steps back, wtf u spend lots of money & theu give u a smile whoopdy $&ckn doo

  • Aletunda

    Posted Nov 7, 2009 7:53 pm GMT

    wat load of BS. 200 points let alone 30 points aint gonna buy u jack. atleast nintendo gave out heaps of points. and to boot you have to be "invited" i mean wtf? it will be a very small amount of users who can take 'advantage' of this so called offer. Microsoft earns billions, and everything is so expensive compared with other units. what a rip off

  • Petercairns

    Posted Nov 7, 2009 6:31 am GMT

    This is really good, good to see our hard work will play off!

  • Trogeton

    Posted Nov 6, 2009 5:23 pm GMT

    THIS IS GREAT!!!! Great MOVE Not much but still cool

  • MazehcS0ul

    Posted Nov 6, 2009 2:32 pm GMT

    Xbox 360 is not for watching movies.

  • feliscele

    Posted Nov 6, 2009 11:08 am GMT

    LAME! You can't do anything with 60 points...

  • FF_fan2004

    Posted Nov 6, 2009 5:28 am GMT

    I didn't know about that, seems like a decent incentive. It's a shame I can't afford xbox live gold. I don't play online as much either.

  • milphey123

    Posted Nov 6, 2009 3:05 am GMT

    Dude! I just bought a virtual costume for my Avatar.. AND THEY GAVE ME ENOUGH POINTS TO BUY 5% OF JOUST! Heck Yea! Now lets start halo and N-word it up!

  • dell900

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 8:59 pm GMT

    seems cool

  • InsertWittyID

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 5:48 pm GMT

    Can someone explain the point of this to me? It seems like a textbook case marketing trick, yet if that were the case it would be open to the mass public. Is this some sort of beta for a soon to be public program?

  • Notebook_holder

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 4:37 pm GMT

    Well i guess this is an upside for us paying 50$ a year?

  • KBFTodd

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 10:10 am GMT

    Not great but better than nothing.

  • jobo030

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 8:10 am GMT

    awww microsoft cares so much for their fellow xbox users. here u go heres a nickel

  • shawise

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 7:24 am GMT

    lol...so this is suppose to make me wanna go GOLD???? lol yeah right i've yet to use the free Gold card i got when my 360 pro got sick...yeah he caught a cold..lol hell my elite didn't even come with a free month...i need to get on them about that not that i'll use it but, its the principle behind it.

  • Dav_id83

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 5:23 am GMT

    Get back points for buying something off XBL why not just give that certain person a % deal off an item once used it's gone and they gain another back at a later date.

    Like a personal SALE for items would be better I mean say you want something for 500 points and your 100 short you would have to add another 500 to buy it. But you would get 100 points back from MS for buying it so work it out you really are only paying 400 for the item which you could of bought without topping up 500 points.

  • KittyHeart

    Posted Nov 5, 2009 12:19 am GMT

    Im wondering how to get in this...

  • kazstar23

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 10:43 pm GMT

    meh....

    i like cloudy14's idea. ms points for gamerscore.

    but what happen to that 1 vs 100. apparently if you reach a certain score, you get ms points

  • shoelaces-4-all

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 6:37 pm GMT

    if they wanna give me anything it would be a price drop on hard drives... I bought my 360 back when the Pro had a 20gb HDD and suffice to say, thats absolutely not enough when considering how much content I purchase. How bout fair pricing on things that are obviously ridiculously overpriced. They dont make money on consoles so wouldnt it be a loss for them too if I went and bought a new console and sold mine because I cant justify paying more than half the price of an elite for a damned HDD.

  • shoelaces-4-all

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 6:34 pm GMT

    @cloudy14
    thats a really good idea man, rewards for gamerscore. that would have people playing games more often and even buying add-on content because of new acheivments. That would work for everybody wouldnt it? More software rentals/sales and more business online. that would be cool.

  • shoelaces-4-all

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 6:32 pm GMT

    im confused though... whats the big deal about paying $5 a month for a good service that is progressively getting better?

  • shoelaces-4-all

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 6:31 pm GMT

    @Hvac0120
    I agree man these rewards are so miniscule that I really dont care. I was thinking myself if they want to lure people into XBOX Live Gold shouldnt they either drop the price a little bit or offer an incentive like a free movie rental from Zune or 50% off of a DLC pack like a map pack or a deal on an arcade game? I mean that would bring the customer in and expose them to some of the cool aspects of Xbox Live and get them hooked on for the long term.

  • ZabuzaR

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 3:38 pm GMT

    Why in the hell do people complain about not getting enough free stuff? You pay the monthly fee for the service, not the damn points.

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 3:37 pm GMT

    so there saying pay us $49.99 and we will give you $2.50.

  • Blu-Fan-Boy

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 2:24 pm GMT

    this would be better if it was like oh i dunno a free arcade download of your choice that is usally worth 800MSP or free premium themes and rental videos something along those lines or better yet FREE TICKETS to the annual Eurogamer convention hows that not crappy 2.5% every £40.00 you spend :S

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 2:22 pm GMT

    I agree with others that the reward system here is pretty lame. You get very little. Microsoft has been trying to find things that get people to want to go Gold. They started with GTA IV DLC, then they added Netflix, soon they're adding Facebook, Twitter, and Last.fm.

    None of their previous efforts have really been worth anything since they are services that are offered for free on several other platforms.

    So, yeah; the current rewards plan sucks. But its a step in the right direction.

    I think everyone here agrees that a decrease in the yearly cost of XBL and the cost of individual DLC items across the board would be preferred over a rewards program.

    _

  • cloudy14

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 1:56 pm GMT

    oh yeah and why bother with ms points in the first place they waste time and money, each time having to buy more points just to buy new stuff. Just say how much it costs and i will pay.

  • cloudy14

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 1:54 pm GMT

    A reward should be something like after you reach 10000 gamerscore you get 1000msp, or something that i might actualy be able to use like extra downloadable stuff made free, not $0.75 for $50-60

  • Doric6

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 1:53 pm GMT

    I cant really understand how this has turned into a fanboy war.

    Microsoft are offering a small return on their sales, yes it will intice people to go gold but thats just business for you, its all down to the consumer.

  • ItsBriskBaby

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 1:48 pm GMT

    Who do they think we are? A Thrid world country! This isn't a sweat shop MS.

  • otanikun

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 1:39 pm GMT

    Wow, that just sounds terrible

  • spOOoOOn

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 1:33 pm GMT

    I wouldn"t call someone giving me 75 cents for every $60 i spend for a years subscription a "reward". Just flat out price drop would've been received better. This is typical Microsoft philsophy "we'll give you credits you can only spend at MS".

  • johnangelo7

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 1:27 pm GMT

    Microsoft hands down has the best online service At this point but with the improvements of psn it's hard not to acknowledge them as a tough competitor. It's sad Microsoft will charge you for a wireless adapter, and goldmembership and have the nerve to post this cheap excuse of a rewards system.... Sorry MS we are tired of your profitable scams it's not amusing us Hopefully next gen you have built in wi fi and free online service. Or at least service good enough to actually pay for

  • EYE0NE

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 1:24 pm GMT

    @ cjasko94

    "Just the fact that you have to pay for Xbox Live is pathetic."

    Thanks for being classy. You're my hero.

    Mind your own business.

  • ChrisGamer5757

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 1:11 pm GMT

    10 measly points a month? What cheap pricks, why even bother with this stupid system?

  • mariokart64fan

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 12:47 pm GMT

    nintendos is better and it comes free with purchase of any nintendo made product not buying pointless stuff off its service or paying for its service lol , 1,25 to 250 at the most? what costs that much -hm themes and gamerpics maybe or useless avatar clothing , is it worth 50 a yr to get 2.50 in points. seriously go buy a 1999 1600 card your better off if your not into online lol

  • UnknownForm

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 12:39 pm GMT

    Are you kidding me?!

  • l0uciferr

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 12:29 pm GMT

    "Sendmn23 Posted Nov 4, 2009 8:16 am PT i'll stick with psn where its FREE!"

    I like how you post that but your avatar pic is of an Xbox360.. FAIL.

  • cjasko94

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 12:27 pm GMT

    Yet you Xbox Live users will fall into this no doubt. YOU buy cloths for you little Xbox Avatar SO Microsoft is saying "hey anymore money scheming ideas"?
    And not even that. Just the fact that you have to pay for Xbox Live is pathetic.

  • mad_krips

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 12:26 pm GMT

    You're probly better off buying XBL cards from best buy with your reward zone cards (and make sure you're in Gamers Club too) and you get a $10 gift card every $150 you spend in addition to $5 ever $250. Well not better off but you can double your rewards this way rather than going to gamestop or something.

  • Avenger1324

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 12:03 pm GMT

    shame the rewards are pathetic compared to the cost of items - bonuses give you pathetic single figure MS points, and the typical price of an XBLA game is now 1200MS.

    Also I thought this was going to be linked to the length of membership - hence the number of years on your profile.

  • diggyman

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 11:54 am GMT

    a live rewards program? yippie. now if they can just start a FREE ONLINE program.

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 11:50 am GMT

    Oh... I've also been charged tax for a PSN card. He's not lying. GameStop charged me on the 2 occasions that I purchased $20 cards.

  • EYE0NE

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 11:49 am GMT

    @ grand17

    Well for you that is ok. But me, I've played Left 4 Dead, COD:MW, Halo3 and GOW2 consistantly for a long time. I play online at least several times a week. It's a way for me to hang out with friends that have moved away and I can't see regularly. For me, Xbox LIVE is work every single penny. Free would be great, but it's pretty dang cheap to me. $40/year? No sweat.

  • Hvac0120

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 11:49 am GMT

    PSN is almost as bad as XBL when it comes to having extra money after you buy stuff. As long as it's over $5 on PSN, you can pay the exact amount. Otherwise, you end up with left-overs that you can't really do anything with except spend on stuff you might not want. Or you build that small left-overs collection up until you can use it for something useful. But that means spending more money in order to spend money you've already spent. PSN cards are a good way to manage that a little, but you still can end up with the same problem.

    It seems easier to spend all your money on PSN than on XBL, though.

    I've had 20MSP for ~1 year now that I will likely never spend. It's just a small bit of change that microsoft gets just because they don't offer anything in that price range that I think is worth it. I'm not supporting pay-for themes or gamerpics. Maybe an avatar item? Is there even any avatar items that cost that little?

    Why can't they just let us pay the exact amount that the content is worth instead of forcing us to pay awkward amounts?

    _

  • VectrexFanBoy

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 11:48 am GMT

    this is good, i may consider xbox live if this continues

  • cptgrenade

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 11:45 am GMT

    Advocate- My main complaint was that it's invitation only. Some people will get points now, others months from now. Include all or none. Do I wait, don't buy anything yet and hope I'm "chosen". If it's retro, yay. I would seem some real change. I'd rather they lower prices instead. Then everyone is rewarded.

  • LVMVP23

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 11:43 am GMT

    grand17 Posted Nov 4, 2009 7:21 pm GMT @ LVMVP23
    why are you paying tax on a psn card? ive bought several and never paid tax. its like buying a gift card, you dont pay tax when you buy a gift card, you pay tax when you redeem it. i think youre lying
    ______________________________________

    Why would I lie about that.. Unless u get them off the street, thats the only way I see avoiding taxes, and anyways u have to pay tax on gift cards, the only time u dont, is when u load up a card, which at Wal-Mart is $3.00 .. I dont know what land u stay at, where u dont pay fee's or taxes on cards..

  • zeniftan

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 11:39 am GMT

    @melty3219: Not really.

  • Psy_m_on

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 11:34 am GMT

    Microsoft you stink, xbox 360

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