Just last month, members of the Xbox Insider Program were given the new option to purchase digital games from the console store and have the code sent by email to other system owners as gifts. The feature was hinted at in July earlier this year and has since been successfully implemented. The gifting feature is now available for all Xbox One and Windows owners, and it’s fairly simple – buyers only need to select “Buy as Gift” in the store. They will also be shown a “gift price” for the game, so it’s possible that some games may have special sales through this option.
ICYMI: Gifting is now available to everyone in time for the holidays. Go ahead and send those digital 🎁! #Xbox
— Mike Ybarra (@Qwik) November 14, 2017
There are two options for sending game codes. If the recipient is on your friend list, selecting their Xbox Gamertag will send them the code. The other method is by entering an email address to send it to. Both ways are just as viable, but the former is a bit more streamlined and doesn’t require you to know an email address. And note that since the games aren’t region-locked, it is possible to send games to overseas players. Naturally, the giftee will still have to meet any age requirements and other criteria for redeeming the code and downloading the game.
Buying an Xbox One game as a gift will only send a code to the person you select – if you want the game yourself, you will have to buy another digital (or physical) copy, just as you would for buying an actual game disc. There’s also the game sharing option, which requires one to reveal their account information and Gold membership with another user but gives both of them access to the other’s game library. With digital gifting, no sensitive information is shared and no changing of home console credentials is forced upon one or the other. Between the two, making games accessible to everyone is now easier than ever.
