Microsoft Adding ‘Game Gifting’ Feature to Xbox One

Feature planned as part of future update

Steam has often had the awesome feature of being able to send your friends a game. This was particularly helpful when it was a game you already had or, failing which, you just happened to be a really awesome person.

Xbox One doesn’t have this feature, but it will shortly. A screenshot via NextPowerUp from the Windows Insider has revealed that those currently participating in the early access program can start giving their games away to their friends right now.

While the addition of keyboard and mouse support was a welcome feature, game gifting seems to be something no one was expecting.

In an apparent further ‘borrowed concept’ from Steam, people will also be able to start building their gaming ‘wish lists’.

Not convinced this will work as well on Xbox One as it does on Steam

Microsoft reports that game gifting has been one of the most requested features in the store. To a degree, I can understand why, however, I can also understand why Microsoft might not be making too big a deal of this either.

The format of game purchasing online is generally far better suited to Steam. With discounts and free gaming codes everywhere Steam makes the process far more accessible to users.

With Microsoft gearing up to the launch of the Xbox One X, such updates are likely to be expected. Particularly since Microsoft is keen to make the Store transitional from PC gamers to Xbox One owners.

It’s clearly a good idea, as it works so well on Steam. I would, however, be very surprised if such a feature is really needed on Xbox. Not, at least until those lines between Microsoft PC and Xbox console are blurred a little more.

It also can’t be ignored that this could bring the Xbox One into the game of game code retailers. An industry which has a lot of question marks over it.

What do you think? It is a good idea or are you surprised it took Microsoft this long to add the feature? Let us know in the comments!