Microsoft Rewards gets controversial changes in May

Microsoft Rewards, the company’s loyalty program, is set for major changes that will take effect in May 2026. The program began as Bing Rewards, but was rebranded and merged with Xbox Live Rewards in 2016 and 2018. Since the service has gone through multiple revisions and changes over the years, the upcoming adjustments are being widely discussed and do not appear to be good news for users.

Higher points for redemptions

One of the controversial updates came in February 2025, when Microsoft Rewards increased the number of points required to redeem Xbox gift cards. The change frustrated users, since they earn points by interacting with the program and completing the tasks it offers. This has put pressure on the value of redeemable rewards, hurting satisfaction with the service.

New tiers in Microsoft Rewards

The biggest change coming in May 2026 is a restructuring of the membership tiers. Users will be able to choose from three tiers: Member, Silver, and Gold. The daily maximum point quotas for these tiers are 15, 30, and 60 points respectively. With Gold status, users can earn up to 7x points, and there will be more ways to earn points. Despite those promises, however, the experience still appears likely to be negative for many users.

Location tests and user experience

Microsoft has already tested the revamped program in countries such as New Zealand, Colombia, India, and Canada. Early users who have experienced the change have not been positive about it so far. Microsoft has begun rolling out this Rewards update to selected European countries, including Germany, France, Italy, and the UK. Reports suggest the changes have been seen as a downgrade in point-earning potential, given the new daily caps and the sharp drop in overall points available.

The future of Microsoft Rewards

It remains unclear whether these changes will be seen as a major misstep for Microsoft. With the combined daily maximum points dropping from 150 to 60, along with fewer bonus points available, many users appear to be losing access to the ways they used to earn points. The frustration among early users will make it a challenge for Microsoft to justify these changes as improvements to the user experience.