Whether you play games professionally or casually, you can’t deny that it is an expensive activity. It seems like only recently that all the major companies have put price hikes for all their biggest titles. Just look at Starfield, which has a price of $80 for just the base game. Because of such prices, more and more Microsoft users are turning to the company’s streaming service, Game Pass. Available on both Xbox and PC, the service offers an affordable subscription for an ever-growing library of games. To complement this, the company is teaming up with a well-known bank to make its own Xbox credit card.
The Xbox Credit Card
Growing up, a recurring lesson was to never sign up for a credit card as that’s one of the most common debt traps. Still, there are cards that if used wisely, can prove to be quite beneficial in the long run. The rewards from spending can range from airline miles to digital points, which is what Microsoft is trying to do with its new Xbox credit card.
According to The Verge, the tech company will be releasing an Xbox Mastercard credit card with the help of Barclays Bank. The way it works is that for each dollar of general spending on the card, the owner will earn one point. Earn enough points, and you can trade them in for gaming-related rewards.
Based on the card’s functions, it looks like it’s made to be the card you use for all your online spending. Though you can use it for general purchases, you can earn additional points for using it on the Microsoft store or to pay for streaming services like Netflix. The stated APR will range from 20.99 to 31.99 percent.
The main reward being offered by the card is a $15 gift card redeemable at the online Xbox store for every 1,500 points you earn. You’ll also get a 5,000-point bonus when you first sign up as well as a free three-month subscription to Game Pass.
Credit cards can be as dangerous as they are convenient, but Microsoft is trying to offer solid incentives for the ones they’re creating. Players will be able to apply for an Xbox Mastercard credit card starting on September 21.
