Xbox Addict

Xbox Live Rewards Program Launched

Following more than a year of testing, Microsoft has finally gone live with its new rewards program for Xbox Live members.
After signing up, you’ll be able to earn Microsoft Points by doing a variety of things on the service, including renewing your Xbox Live Gold subscription, watching movies or sports, purchasing select content on the Live Marketplace, or taking a survey. A section of Xbox.com has been launched where you can register for the program and keep track of your rewards. It all mostly seems to reward newcomers to the service -- if you’ve already done many of the things that Microsoft Points are given out for (sign up for Netflix, sign up for Xbox Live for the first time, make your first purchase on the Marketplace) it would seem your opportunities to earn Microsoft Points are relatively minimal.

Microsoft’s competitors both have rewards programs, albeit with key differences. Nintendo has Club Nintendo, where you can receive physical items (like a Mario hat or a game) in return for taking surveys and registering games. Sony recently started a beta for the PlayStation Rewards program which rewards gamers with PlayStation Network content -- avatars, themes, and Home content -- along with sweepstakes prizes such as a trip to the 2011 Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show.

The Xbox Live Rewards site actually launched last night, although it was then taken back down due to some technical difficulties. It seems to be back up along with an official announcement by Major Nelson, but some people appear to be having issues signing into the site. The most recent tweet from the official Xbox Twitter account mentions that the problems are being worked on, so hopefully they will be fixed up soon.