The Microsoft Store initially added game gifting for Xbox titles last year, and now it's expanding to include apps and avatar items. Microsoft announced today that both items are now eligible to be purchased as gifts from a button present on each app or avatar item's store page.
Sending gifts is relatively straightforward. From a products Microsoft Store page, you can now select a "Buy as gift" option. From there, you just enter the email address of the person you're sending the gift to, and they'll receive a redemption code and instructions on how to use it. The gift option is available from the Microsoft Store on Windows 10, Xbox consoles, and at the Microsoft Store on the web. For console gifters, you'll also have the option to send items to someone's Gamertag, rather than entering an email address.
It's worth noting that there are some restrictions on how you can use the gifting feature. Here's the rundown from Microsoft:
- There are limits to the number of discounted products you can buy. Gift purchasers can only buy two (2) of the same discounted product – and a total of ten (10) discounted products – every 14 days. There are no limits for gift purchases made at full price.
- Gifting of Xbox 360 and Xbox original games, Xbox original avatar items, pre-orders, free products and consumable downloadable game content such as virtual currency is not allowed.
- Gift recipients can only redeem gift tokens in the country or region where they were purchased.
- The gifts are sent to recipients as soon as they are purchased. Currently, you can't time the delivery of the gift for a specific date and time.
According to Microsoft, most apps and avatar items should show gifting as an option starting today. All apps and avatar items are expected to have the feature enabled by October 23.
