Nobody likes needing to use the Microsoft Store. It’s counter-intuitive, fiddly and it manages to make the simple act of downloading and playing a game a needless hassle. It’s just a bad experience. However! Microsoft has made one step in the right direction, allowing PC users to finally gift digital games and DLC (opens in new tab).
Announced yesterday, it means that you’ll be able to go to a product page, select ‘Buy As Gift’, type in your pal’s email and voila, you’ve given them the most wondrous gift of all: forcing them to use the MS Store.
There are a few limitations, however.
Presumably to stop key resellers taking advantage of the system, you’ll only be able to gift two discounted products every 14 days. The actual rule description is a bit confusing, though.
“Gift purchasers can only buy two discounted products – and a total of 10 discounted products – every 14 days. There are no limits for gift purchases made at full price.”
So… you can only buy two and a total of 10? Well that’s nonsense. I assume it’s two discounted products and a total of 10 products, regardless of whether or not they’re on sale.
You also won’t be able to gift Xbox 360 or Xbox Original titles, nor will you be able to gift virtual currency. Anything you do send as a gift will also only be redeemable in the country it was purchased in.
Several games were made available yesterday, and the plan is to make every game available for gifting today.
