Xbox Game Pass Just Lost a Perk: Microsoft Replaces DLC Discounts With Rewards Points

Microsoft just pulled a quiet little switch on Xbox Game Pass perks, and yeah, it is the kind of detail most people only notice when it suddenly stops working. After the big pricing-and-tiers reshuffle rolled out worldwide, Xbox has removed the DLC discount that Game Pass members (especially Ultimate folks) have been using for years. Instead, Microsoft wants you earning points. Cool for some, annoying for a lot of others.

What actually changed

Here is the short version: the old 10% off DLC perk is gone. Microsoft confirmed to IGN that this is not a one-game fluke; it applies across the board. In its place, Microsoft is steering people to the Microsoft Rewards system, with extra points for certain Game Pass tiers and purchases.

• Game Pass DLC discount: removed. This is not limited to any single game.
• Points instead of DLC savings: Premium members earn 5% in points; Ultimate members earn 10% in points when buying select games and add-ons from the Game Pass library.
• Ultimate still keeps 20% off 'select' games in the Game Pass library (base games, not DLC).
• Rewards program multipliers: all Rewards members earn points on Store purchases, with Premium and Ultimate getting boosted accrual at 2x and 4x, respectively.
• Important fine print: much of this hinges on the Rewards ecosystem, which is not available in every region.

How people spotted it

Call of Duty players were the first to sound the alarm. A lot of them used the built-in 10% DLC discount to buy COD Points, then noticed the savings had vanished. At first, people thought it was a Call of Duty-only thing. It was not. IGN checked with Microsoft, and the company confirmed the broader policy shift.

Microsoft's explanation

Microsoft says the change is intentional and not tied to any one title. The strategy now is to route value through Reward points rather than an upfront DLC discount, with Premium and Ultimate members earning extra.

'This is not specific to any one game.'

In plain English: no more automatic DLC discount, but you will rack up points on select Game Pass library purchases, plus broader Rewards points on Store buys (with higher multipliers if you are Premium or Ultimate).

What that means in real life

If you were counting on that instant DLC price cut, it is gone. In return, you earn points you can eventually exchange for gift cards and such. The catch: points require time and engagement, especially if you are leaning on quests and daily/weekly tasks. This is less 'here is a discount' and more 'stay in the ecosystem and we will drip-feed you value.'

Fans are not thrilled

Reaction has not been warm. The general vibe: this feels less like rewarding loyal subscribers and more like nudging engagement metrics for the shareholder slide deck. The fact that Microsoft Rewards is not available everywhere rubs salt in the wound, because the old DLC discount was universal. Now, if Rewards is not in your region, you are simply losing out.

The read

Is it sneaky business? Some people say yes. At minimum, it is an unadvertised downgrade: Microsoft hyped the new Game Pass tiers and global price changes in its recent rollout, but skipped the part where a long-standing DLC perk disappears. If you are Ultimate, there is still a 20% discount on certain Game Pass games, but for DLC specifically, the play is points now. Whether that feels like a fair trade depends on how deep you are in the Rewards grind.