Xbox Owners have the option to buy Xbox games from physical stores and return them if they are unsatisfied. However, returning games is not an option for those that own the Xbox One S or the Xbox Series S since they rely entirely on digital purchases.
Fortunately, all is not lost, as Xbox owners who have made digital purchases can get a refund on a game. While it may seem complicated, it is actually pretty straightforward. To simplify things, this guide will cover everything there is to know about refunding a game on Xbox and other valuable tidbits.
How to Refund a Game on Xbox One S/X and Xbox Series S/X
To refund a game on Xbox, players will need to follow these simple instructions:
- Access the Microsoft account with the game that needs to be refunded.
- Go to the support page.
- Select Gaming to access the Xbox account.
- Select Subscriptions and Billing.
- From the list of drop-down menus, select Most Popular.
- Under How to make an Xbox digital product refund request, select request a refund.
- Select the game from the list of recent purchases that qualify for a refund.
Not all refund requests are accommodated since they are investigated case-by-case.
When a refund has been approved, Microsoft will return the money in a few business days on the same payment method that was used to purchase the game in the first place.
Criteria for Refunding a Game on Xbox Account
As mentioned above, getting a refund is not complicated, but certain criteria must be met for success. To refund a game on Xbox:
- The refund request for the game must be made within fourteen days from the original date of purchase.
- The player should not have played the game for a long time.
- The player can only request a refund using the same account on which the purchase was made.
- The player account has not reached the limit for requesting financial compensation or refunds within a year. Unfortunately, the limit has not been revealed by Microsoft.
It is worth noting that Microsoft will deny refund requests if they conclude the system is being abused. Additionally, refunds do not apply to all games, including:
- Games bought on discounts.
- Games that were part of a bundle.
- Expansions and DLC for games.
- Games bought as gifts, as long as it is the receiver.
While this guide has covered everything there is to know about refunding a game on Xbox, users can get more information from the Digital Game Purchase Refund Terms section on the Xbox support page.