Summary
Microsoft has announced that theXboxMastercard is now available for everyone in the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. TheXboxMastercard launched back in September 2023 as an exclusive perk for Xbox Insiders.
TheInsiders program gathers a group of Xbox customerswho have access to certain software updates, upcoming features, and products for beta testing. This limited rollout of the card allowed Microsoft to gather valuable feedback from the testers and iron out any potential wrinkles before opening it up to the public.
Now, anyone in the designated regions can apply for the Xbox Mastercard andunlock an array of benefits- the first of which ties in directly to Game Pass. Users who spend at least $7,000 within the first 12 months of opening the account can earn two separate three-month subscriptions of Game Pass Ultimate to share with friends or family. Moreover, the Xbox Mastercard automatically bumps owners up to level 2 in theMicrosoft Rewards program, allowing them to accumulate points quicker, and purchase items from the Microsoft store without having to spend additional cash.
Although an Xbox-branded credit card may seem a strange proposition, Microsoft isn’t the first company to offer such a thing. Sony has been offering its own PlayStation credit card with Visa since 2008, which offers similar benefits, like a year of PlayStation Plus Premium, 5x points on eligible Sony purchases, and no annual charges. Fans of theFinal Fantasyseries who live in Japan can even snag exclusiveFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth-themed credit cards. For those who spend a considerable amount on games and/or streaming services every month (or even general expenses like food and groceries), the benefits these cards offer would be handy for accumulating points and saving money in the long run.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the highest tier of Microsoft’s flagship game subscription service that offers over 100 game titles that you can play with a single purchase, making it one of the most outstanding value propositions of the Xbox ecosystem to date.
