Xbox Live Rewards merging with Microsoft Rewards

TLDR: Spend your gems now before they have 1/20th the value.

Xbox Live Rewards was changed at the end of 2017 to include a new MyVIP reward system with a number of challenges that reward Gems (e.g., use the Mixer app for at least 30 minutes per week for 4, 12, and 26 weeks to earn 10, 20, and 30 Gems, respectively).
The Gems could then be used to redeem rewards through a new MyVIP Vault, which had different tiers of prizes, with the highest tier offering prizes at approximately 1 gem = 5 cents (10000 gems for a $500 Xbox One X), and the lowest tier ~ 1 gem = 2 cents (500
gems for 10000 Xbox Live Rewards credits, ARV $10).

Now, at the end of May, 2018, the Xbox Live Rewards program will merge with Microsoft Rewards. Gems will be converted at a 1:1 ratio to Microsoft Points, with 1 point having an approximate value of .1 cents. (So, spend your gems now while they have a higher
value.) The MyChallenges will no longer be available, so even though there is a challenge to keep your Xbox Live subscription active for 12 months (worth 400 gems), nobody will have had the opportunity to complete this challenge by the time the rewards programs
are merged.

I don't understand this move. And really, it makes Microsoft seem like they have no plans for the future. How much time was invested into developing this rewards program (designing the vault, the new rewards interface, the challenges), only for it to be
scrapped 6 months later? You offered rewards for long-term investment (complete 12 monthly surveys in a row, use Mixer 26 consecutive weeks, play featured games with gold for 12 months straight), but then dump the idea before anyone can earn them. What's more,
this new MyVIP rewards program was being developed at the same time Microsoft was merging Xbox Live Rewards into Microsoft Rewards in alternate markets, such as in Canada. Why didn't this change just roll out to all markets at the same time, instead of introducing
a brand new program that would be scrapped half a year later?

:)

 

Can't join in Australia

Hello SheepSheep13,

The Xbox Live Rewards program for that region is merging with Microsoft Rewards, so it is no longer possible to join our program. For more information, you can read our FAQ at (Xbox Live Rewards).

 

What will happen?

So I got the email saying that Xbox Live Rewards is merging with Microsoft Rewards. I'm OK with this, except that my Microsoft Rewards account was suspended back when it was still Bing Rewards. If my Xbox Live Rewards account is still in good standing, what
will happen when the merge happens? Will I just be out of luck, or can I get my Microsoft Rewards account reactivated? I sent several emails regarding the suspension of my Bing Rewards account, but didn't get any response beyond an initial investigation. Is
there anything that can be done to help me?

 

Yeah, exactly, why they even launched the new my VIP if they planned to shut down it just a few months after, thats like rubbing in our face the awesome prizes we can get but they will never give us, thats just plain Bad Microsoft, you are spitting in the
face of your customers.

 

Speaking of rubbing it in our faces, right now the 500 Gem for 10000 Xbox Live Rewards Credits (and 250 Gem for 5000 Credits) offer is "sold out." How do you "sell out" of your own rewards currency, right at the moment when you are
about to effectively reduce the value of Gems by 95%? Hopefully it will be available again before the Vault closes in mid-June.

Honestly, I like Microsoft Rewards, I use it all the time and am glad that Microsoft offers rewards programs like this. I didn't use Xbox Live rewards as much prior to the addition of the Vault, and I liked the idea that I was being offered a way to earn something
like a new controller or Xbox after a few years of doing some of the different challenges they might provide, which seemed to me to be the entire idea ("Save up for something big, or trade in your gems right away..." Now you have no choice). But, now I feel
like if Microsoft offers a rewards program, I don't know if the value of my rewards points won't fall drastically, while the things I would redeem are coincidentally sold out as the program is being shut down.

 

Unbelievable. I have been an Xbox Rewards member since the very beginning (2010). I remember when they were giving out XBLA arcade game codes as prizes, and sent out the 'diamond rewards' card. The MyVIP 10% points back on purchases is one of the main
reasons I choose to by Xbox digital over PSN. After I get done here, I'm going to go look at what PlayStation Rewards is currently offering. The rewards tracker states I have earned 853,339 points in the program so far - so YES - the rewards program was
paying out fairly well. On the other hand, it was also tempting me to pump thousands of dollars into Microsoft digital sales.

I'm sure this was a business decision based on cost savings - especially when they saw a large group of members start to approach the XBOXONE-X carrot they were using in the Gems promotion. Overall, it's pretty disgusting and really makes my loyalty feel
forgotten. Dumping us into MS rewards only gives us 1 point for every dollar spent? At the top tier (level 2), I would be rewarded with $3 of MS account credit for every $2,900.00 spent. Eck. Not very rewarding.

 

Just a reminder that today is April Fools Day. I wouldn't take anything seriously unless the notification is still there tomorrow.

 

I have both XBox live rewards and Microsoft rewards. Will I still get my XB rewards credits converted into MS rewards points on my existing MS rewards?

 

Today is not and the notification is still there, anyway it seems to be true from the beginning because in countries like Canada and Australia it happened some months ago, Microsoft "merged" the 2 programs and made a not rewarding system, they got rid of
all the features we love about this program.

 

Worse than that, a lot of people will get left behind on this.

Microsoft Rewards is not available in Brazil and a lot of countries.

 

I just finally got to 1,000 Gems and everything is sold out that is actually worth getting. Is the Vault going to refill, or am I stuck getting these transferred to reward points?

I really enjoyes this new set up, and its going away already. That sucks.

 

Pure garbage on MS part to do this. The rewards program was something that set MS apart from the competition. I'm lost for words....

 

YEAH!!!!!!!! DO NOT TAKE AWAY OUR BONUS % BACK FOR BEING VIP 1, 2, 3, 4 OR 5!! *FROWNIE FACE* We can all express our displeasure and maybe our voice will be heard!! Please go to feedback.xbox.com !!!!!! and submit feedback!

 

I am also gutted about this (In fact, I have not seen anyone have anything positive to say about this transformation). I have started doing every thing I can to get rewards and am already up to nearly 2000 GEMS. Then they go and take this away. This really
is shocking and it looks like Microsoft are going to be upsetting a hell of a lot of gamers here!! TAKE NOT MS, listen to your loyal fans!!

 

"O MyChallenges já não estará disponível, então mesmo que há um desafio para manter sua assinatura Xbox Live ativa por 12 meses (no valor de 400 pedras preciosas), ninguém terá tido a oportunidade de completar este desafio quando que os programas de recompensas
são mesclados. "

Perfect! MS kill the users.