Microsoft confirms it has scrapped Xbox Game Pass' DLC discounts in favor of extra reward points

Following Microsoft’s controversial changes to the pricing of Xbox Game Pass, it has confirmed that it has now scrapped the service’s discounts on DLC content in favor of providing additional reward points for purchases.

The details:

• As spotted last week by Charlie Intel, Game Pass Ultimate members appeared to no longer be entitled to a 10% discount on the purchase of Call of Duty’s COD Points or its premium battle pass despite no mention of the deal’s removal. It was later noticed that the 10% discount was seemingly removed from the majority of DLC content for all Game Pass titles except those available via EA Play.
• Microsoft has now confirmed in a statement to IGN that the discount has been removed and subsequently replaced with an update to its rewards point system. Ultimate and Premium subscribers will now earn 10% and 5% in points on select game and add-on purchases, respectively, with the existing 20% discount on Game Pass games remaining in place for Ultimate members. Ultimate and Premium members will also earn 2x and 4x more points for purchases via Xbox’s Rewards scheme.
• This change is a part of Microsoft’s major changes to the pricing and benefits of Game Pass. Most notably, the service now costs upwards of 50% more, with Ultimate being priced at $29.99 per month, up from $19.99. This was met with widespread backlash from players, but the company has attempted to defend it by highlighting the increased number of day-one releases and the addition of Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft’s Plus Classics catalog.