As Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders opened, a segment of the player base discovered a way to secure the highly anticipated title with minimal out-of-pocket expense by accumulating Microsoft Rewards points. This approach, meticulously planned over months, involved earning points through activities such as searching on Bing and completing various tasks within the Microsoft Rewards program.
One player, HugoWheynow, shared their success, stating, "I pre-ordered [GTA 6] using 98,000 Microsoft points." They further humorously attributed this feat to "Rockstar for all the delays, which allowed me to have all these extra months to save my Microsoft points." Another user posted evidence of their pre-order being fully paid for with these accumulated points, showcasing the deduction from their Microsoft account balance.
The Microsoft Rewards program allows users to earn points through daily searches on Bing, utilizing the Bing mobile app, playing games on Xbox Game Pass, and engaging in other promotional activities. Players can earn a significant number of points monthly, with an estimate of up to 10,000 points, equivalent to approximately $10, which can help reduce the overall cost of purchases.
To redeem these points, users navigate to the Microsoft Rewards dashboard, select their desired reward, and convert the points into an Xbox Gift Card. This gift card can then be applied towards purchases on the Xbox store, including pre-orders for titles like Grand Theft Auto 6. The effectiveness of this method hinges on a player's dedication to earning points through the various available avenues and their willingness to engage with the Bing search engine and associated tasks.