If like me, you received piles of Xbox Gift Cards this holiday season, you may be wondering just how best to spend that cash.
Xbox Gift Cards are essentially Microsoft Gift Cards, as they can be used to purchase just about any digital content on the Windows 10 ecosystem, as well as a variety of hardware from the retail Microsoft Store. Whether it's accessories, movies, TV shows, apps, or games, both the Microsoft Store and the Xbox Store has you covered.
Here's a look at some of the best ways you can spend that Xbox Gift Card as of right now.
How do I redeem my Microsoft Gift Card?
The easiest way to redeem and view your Microsoft Account balance is directly on Microsoft's website. Head to https://redeem.microsoft.com/ and sign in.
You will be prompted to enter a code, which will be on the reverse of your Microsoft gift card. If you received the card digitally, there should be a link in the email for instant redemption.
Once you have entered your gift card code, the credit will be added to your account. You can then use it as a payment option when buying things from either the physical retail store or the online digital stores across Windows and Xbox.
1. Buy Xbox One Games!
Naturally, the best way to spend that Xbox Gift Card is undoubtedly on Xbox One games. There's a sale taking place right now, too, meaning several games are priced lower than usual.
You could also spend that Xbox Gift Card on Xbox Game Pass, which grants instantaneous access to dozens of high-quality games. You may need to enter a backup payment method on top of the gift code, however.
Source: Xbox Game Studios
Netflix for Xbox games
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Staff pick
Microsoft's Netflix-like game subscription service for Xbox gives you access to well over 100 titles on console, but also on PC. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also throws in Xbox Live Gold, which is required for playing online.
The Old West
Red Dead Redemption 2
This is arguably the best game on Xbox One, set towards the end of the "Wild West" era in a fictional county in the United States.
Editor's Pick
The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds is an incredible first-person RPG set in a declining colony on the fringes of frontier space.
$60 at Amazon (Physical) $60 at Microsoft (Digital)
Leading RPG
The Witcher 3
The Witcher 3 is one of the best games on Xbox One. Set in a fantasy world based on novels of the same name, The Witcher series is full of political intrigue, mythical beasts, and epic battles.
Best Competitive Shooter
Rainbow Six Siege
Rainbow Six Siege is an industry-leading tactical shooter. Few games have been supported as well as this one post-launch in terms of DLC, so be sure to give it a look.
Moar games!
There are dozens of great games for all sorts of players, from RPGs, to shooters, for kids, and beyond. We've rounded up some of the best on Windows Central over the last few months, and you can find even more purchasing ideas below!
- Best Xbox One RPGs
- Best Xbox One Shooters
- Best Xbox One Games for Kids
- Best Xbox One Racing Games
- Best Xbox One backward compatible games
- Ten overlooked and underrated Xbox One games
- All the best Xbox One games, listed by genre
2. Buy media on Movies & TV
Microsoft is running some great deals on film and TV shows right now, and the licenses carry across all your Windows 10 devices. On Windows 10 PCs and phones you can even sync movies and shows offline for viewing while traveling, making Microsoft Movies & TV a good option for frequent flyers. Here are a few suggestions available at fabulous prices on the Windows and Xbox Stores.
Emotional rollercoaster
Inside Out
Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions – Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith). The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley's mind, where they help advise her through everyday life.
As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley's main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.
In space
The Martian
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.
Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring "the Martian" home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible rescue mission.
Capitalist life
The Wolf of Wall Street
Revered filmmaker Martin Scorsese directs the true story of New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio). From the American dream to corporate greed, Belfort goes from penny stocks and righteousness to IPOs and a life of corruption in the late 80s.
Excess success and affluence in his early twenties as founder of the brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont warranted Belfort the title – "The Wolf of Wall Street."
Money. Power. Women. Drugs. Temptations were for the taking and the threat of authority was irrelevant. For Jordan and his wolf pack, modesty was quickly deemed overrated and more was never enough.
Drug wars
Breaking Bad
It's been said a million times already, but Breaking Bad is probably as close as television has gotten to "perfect" in the last decade.
Without getting into too much detail, Breaking Bad follows a high school chemistry teacher, Walter White, after he finds out he has cancer and starts producing meth to pay for his treatments. However, before long, Walter's ambitions grow beyond just paying for chemo, leading to his slow transformation from a meek doormat to a complicated anti-hero with some serious villain vibes.
3. Use it as credit to buy hardware
You can also add your Microsoft Store gift cards to an attached Microsoft account by heading over here. Once you have done that, you can apply your Microsoft account credit to any hardware purchase through the main Microsoft Store, if it's supported in your region.
For more ideas, take a look over here.
10 best Xbox accessories for new owners
Xbox wireless headset
LucidSound LS35X
Our favorite wireless headset
The LucidSound LS35X is the best value wireless Xbox headset available right now, with stunning sound, comfort, and wireless convenience.
Headset king
Astro A50
Premium wireless
Arguably the best Xbox One headset on the market right now in terms of features, the Astro A50 is a pricey option. Complete with a charging dock and all the premium bells and whistles, you won't be disappointed with this one.
Extra storage
Western Digital Black Game Drive
Extra storage
Western Digital's new WD_Black Game Drive adds up to 6TB of extra storage for your growing games collection.
Extra controller
Microsoft Xbox One controller
For player two
If you need a new/spare Xbox One controller, Microsoft has said that their standard Bluetooth-compatible Xbox One controllers available to buy through the Microsoft Store.
Over to you!
How have you spent your holiday vouchers this Christmas? Have you purchased any new Xbox games? Or perhaps movies and shows on Movies & TV? Let us know your suggestions in the comments!
If like me, you received piles of Xbox Gift Cards this holiday season, you may be wondering just how best to spend that cash.
Xbox Gift Cards are essentially Microsoft Gift Cards, as they can be used to purchase just about any digital content on the Windows 10 ecosystem, as well as a variety of hardware from the retail Microsoft Store. Whether it's accessories, movies, TV shows, apps, or games, both the Microsoft Store and the Xbox Store has you covered.
Here's a look at some of the best ways you can spend that Xbox Gift Card as of right now. How do I redeem my Microsoft Gift Card?
The easiest way to redeem and view your Microsoft Account balance is directly on Microsoft's website. Head to https://redeem.microsoft.com/ and sign in.
You will be prompted to enter a code, which will be on the reverse of your Microsoft gift card. If you received the card digitally, there should be a link in the email for instant redemption.
Once you have entered your gift card code, the credit w... by: Jez Corden via https://www.AiUpNow.com/
