Xbox Is Officially Giving Away Free Store Credit Right Now

Published Oct 15, 2026, 6:38 AM EDT

Sharmila is an engineer-turned-gaming hardware journalist and freelance contributor at ScreenRant who has been covering the gaming and tech industry since 2021. While she first built her expertise writing about video games, she has since pivoted towards gaming hardware, with a focus on PC components, peripherals, handhelds, and performance-driven tech. When she’s not testing gear or writing about the latest hardware trends, she can usually be found diving into competitive shooters or keeping up with the evolving esports scene.

Xbox players might want to check their accounts, as a small cash surprise has started showing up for a set of people. To be precise, Microsoft is giving away free store credit, but there’s a catch: The reward is tied to a specific purchase.

The giveaway has already started attracting attention—as it should—with eligible buyers beginning to report that their accounts have received the credit. If you’ve recently pre-ordered a certain Xbox game, you might want to take a closer look at your Xbox wallet before spending money on your next digital purchase.

Xbox Rolling Out Free Gift Cards To Eligible Gears of War: E-Day Buyers

If you pre-ordered Gears of War: E-Day through the Microsoft Store during the promotional period, you might qualify for a $5 gift card in the US (or £4 in the UK). The reward is part of Microsoft's pre-order promotion, which also includes two in-game cosmetic items.

However, not every pre-order qualifies. According to Microsoft's official terms, customers had to purchase the Standard Edition, Premium Edition, or Premium Upgrade Bundle through a participating Microsoft Store. The offer ran until October 6, 2026, for the Standard Edition and October 1 for the Premium Edition or Premium Upgrade Bundle, subject to availability.

These deadlines matter because buying Gears of War: E-Day outside the qualifying period does not guarantee the reward. Purchases from third-party retailers are not automatically eligible either. Microsoft also limits the promotion to one gift card per customer, so owning multiple qualifying editions won't necessarily get you multiple rewards.

The offer was available in several countries, including the US, UK, India, Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe. However, the reward amount varies by region, so players should check the terms applicable to their location. Note that the gift card comes alongside the Exfil Dom Character Skin and Exfil Weapon Skin Set. These in-game items are delivered separately from the store credit, meaning players should not assume that receiving one reward means the other has arrived.

How to Claim Your Free Xbox Store Credit

If your purchase qualifies, checking for the reward is straightforward. On your Xbox console, open the Microsoft Store, select your profile icon, and navigate to Offers & Credits. Look under active offers for the gift card and follow the instructions to redeem it. PC players can check through the official website. Eligible customers should receive a notification through the Xbox PC app within 35 days of the game's launch, while console players should receive a pop-up notification on their Xbox within the same period.

Don't panic if the credit hasn't appeared yet. The rollout may take time, and reports so far don't confirm that every eligible account has received the reward. If you meet the requirements, checking again over the coming days is worth doing.

There is also a deadline to remember. Microsoft's terms state that the promotional gift card must be redeemed by December 1, 2026, and spent within 90 days of redemption. Once added to your Microsoft account, the balance can be used for eligible purchases through select Microsoft digital stores, although some exclusions apply.

If you qualified for the Xbox promotion, head to Offers & Credits and see whether the reward is waiting. That extra credit might even help bring the price of a game on your wishlist down a little.

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