Microsoft is building on its gift-giving program, allowing users to send all Xbox One and PC games and content to friends and family via the Microsoft Store.
Gifting games isn't anything new. Platforms such as Steam have already been offering it for a long time now, but this marks the first time a major console is getting in on it (read: Nintendo and Sony).
For those who don't know, the company already rolled out this feature in 2017, but it was limited. Only a handful of Xbox One titles, content, and subscriptions to Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass were part of the deal.
How To Send Digital Gifts
Step 1: Go to the Microsoft Store on Windows 10, Xbox One, or on the web.
Step 2: Look for a game, content, or subscription. Content includes map packs and in-game skins, to name a few.
Step 3: On the product page, click on "Buy as gift" and enter the email address or the Gamertag (on Xbox One) of the recipient.
That's pretty much it. All that's left to do is for the receiver to redeem the code or, for Xbox gamers, click on the redemption button.
Gifting 101
There are a couple of things to remember, though. For starters, users can't send games they already own. Essentially, that means it only allows them to purchase products on behalf of their friends or family, or in other words, it's not "gamesharing."
Also, users can only purchase two games with discounts every 14 days, and there's a limit of 10 discounted products in place. Xbox 360 and Xbox original games can't be sent as gifts either, as well as preorders, free products, and consumable DLC such as virtual currency.
Last but not least, gifts can be redeemed only in the country or region where it was bought.
According to Microsoft, the digital game gifting option should be available to all users already.
In other related news, the Xbox Game Pass update for May 2018 is adding State of Decay 2, Laser League, Pro Evolution Soccer 2018, Overcooked, The Escapists, Homefront: The Revolution, Unmechanical: Extended, and Sonic & Knuckles to the lineup. That should help in deciding whether gifting a subscription to the Xbox Game Pass is worth it or not.
One last thing: Xbox One gamers can also take their gaming to the next level with Linksys' new WRT32XB router, which is optimized to work nicely with the console and prioritize "gaming traffic."
