Microsoft does not provide a free game or hardware gift for an Xbox user's birthday week, according to a recent report from Engadget. Instead, the company offers an opportunity to earn extra Microsoft Rewards points during that period. The report notes that this may be disappointing to players expecting a more substantial perk from the company. Users can still participate in the birthday-week bonus by accessing the Rewards program through their Xbox account.
The points collected through Microsoft Rewards can be redeemed for a limited selection of items, as detailed in the Engadget article. Available options include gift cards and digital currency for specific games. For example, a $5 or 拢5 Xbox gift card requires 6,820 points. A League of Legends gift card costs 6,500 points, while a Candy Crush gift card is available for 1,500 points.
Additional redemption options include in-game currency such as an Ancient Coin Pack for Sea of Thieves, priced at 1,700 points, and 330 Minecraft Minecoins for 2,500 points. The report clarifies that these rewards do not extend to full game purchases like Forza Horizon 6 or Halo Campaign Evolved. The selection is notably narrower than what some players might hope for.
A notable feature of the Rewards program is the ability to donate points to charities. For 1,000 points, users can contribute $1 or 拢1 to organizations including UNICEF and Girls Who Code. This provides an alternative use for accumulated points that does not involve digital goods.
To check the current point balance, users should navigate to the Xbox Rewards hub, which is most easily reached through the Xbox app. The report notes that while the available gift cards may appeal to fans of Candy Crush or Sea of Thieves, the overall value is limited. It also advises against spending birthday money on the Microsoft Store solely to earn additional Rewards points, since the points cannot be applied directly to game purchases.
The report does not specify an exact birthday date or a particular model of the Xbox console that this applies to. It also does not mention any changes to the program beyond the described birthday-week bonus. For US users, the gift card values are listed in dollars, reflecting the domestic market. The information is based solely on the Engadget article, which was published on August 30, 2026.
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