Every now and then, Xbox and Microsoft will send fans a surprise in the form of a free gift card. While these are never outrageous sums of money, it's a decent way to chip a few extra dollars off whatever purchase users are planning to make. Luckily, another round of free gift cards is headed out now to select users, just in time for Xbox's Spring Sale event.
While a free gift card doesn't really have any downsides, there are a few things to be aware of. While Microsoft will typically send out free offers globally, it appears that this free gift card offer is currently limited to US residents. Additionally, it appears that not everyone is receiving a code for the free gift card, so it's luck of the draw.
With all of that out of the way, those lucky enough to get one of the gift cards will have a few steps to go through before they have the additional digital funds added to their wallets. First, look for an email dubbed "Your chance at a spring surprise awaits." At the bottom of the email, there will be a section labeled "Surprise - free gift - click to see if you won!" There will be an area on the webpage to "scratch," then an option to redeem the code. After that, the $5 credit should be good to go.
The process isn't too dissimilar from the Epic Games Store coupons, though there are some additional hoops to jump through. It's unfortunate that the code doesn't apply to everyone, at least not yet, but those that are lucky enough to snag one should make sure to put it to good use. The Xbox Spring Sale Event runs until April 15, so there's ample time to use it for extra savings.
The changing of the seasons typically comes with a bevy of video game sales, and across each platform to boot. While that usually means a tough time for gamers' wallets, it's also a good opportunity to stock up on some new games. With the 2021 video game release calendar still having some notable gaps, building up a backlog isn't a terrible idea right now.
Of course, there's also the ever-present risk of buying too many games during a Steam sale, which often results in games going untouched, but it's always nice to have options. With any luck, more companies will follow suit with their own coupons, helping gamers keep their bank accounts out of the red.
Source: PureXbox, SlickDeals