In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Microsoft has made it even easier for gamers to make a difference. Their latest initiative allows gamers throughout the U.S. to donate their accumulated virtual currency, “Microsoft Rewards Points”, towards the Centre For Disease Control and Prevention.
How will a virtual currency help you ask? Well, with the Microsoft Reward system players can amass points through various regular daily activities. Once they have amassed a sizable chunk, players can then purchase donation cards for 1000-5000 points that value at U.S.D $1 – $5 respectively. With Microsoft Rewards matching all donations made using their service through to June 30th, 2020.
Support @CDCFound without putting down your controller.
Sign up, play games, and donate your Microsoft Rewards points. We’ll match every dollar.
Xbox players in the U.S. can visit their dashboards and send points now.
Start giving: https://t.co/BZML3dHbAf pic.twitter.com/j4mD5ibfRO
— Xbox (@Xbox) April 6, 2020
Microsoft Rewards is a free program available to all users via the Microsoft website and the Microsoft Rewards app. The system, available for over 10 years now, has allowed its users to gain points through simple day-to-day use. Currently, reward points can be accumulated by playing games, shopping on the Microsoft store and completing surveys online. Other redeemable benefits include Xbox Live Gold subscriptions, gift cards and the option to donate to a long list of charities.
As users log into their Xbox home screens a new “CDC Foundation” tile will highlight the initiative. Bringing awareness to this cause will no doubt entice more people to sign up to the rewards system and hopefully boost donations towards a worthy cause. Microsoft Rewards itself has the benefit of being free and easy to use. With the new initiative as a simple yet effective way to allow gamers to contribute by doing something, they love – playing games.
For more information on the Microsoft Rewards program visit their main page here. It’s a free simple sign up that allows users to start earning points straight away. While the CDC Foundation option is only available to users in the U.S. there remains a long list of other charities to donate towards.
Writer by day horror connoisseur by night … albeit with the sound off, subtitles on and a slideshow of cats on my second monitor. You will often find me lost in the fantasy worlds of books or movies. While occasionally forging prodigious puns to edify, exhort and sometimes purge the uncultured pun-hating heathens of society.
