Xbox Achievements Now Unlock Discounts and Rewards

Have you got a lot of Achievement Points on your Xbox Live account? Well, Microsoft is now making something useful out of them. Besides major bragging rights, having a healthy Gamerscore will now unlock various rewards and Xbox Live Marketplace discounts.

There are three levels to unlock in the new Xbox Live Rewards scheme. Having a Gamerscore of over 3000 will net you a "special gift" during your birthday month. If you pass the 10,000 Gamerscore mark, you get the gift and a 1 per cent rebate on all Xbox Live Marketplace purchases every month. A 2 per cent rebate is unlocked once you reach 25,000 points.

Most purchases on the Marketplace are valid for the rebate scheme, including Games on Demand, XBLA Games, Add-ons and Avatar items. Don't expect to see a return on money spent on Microsoft Points or Xbox Live Gold memberships, though.

To sign up for the new Xbox Live Rewards scheme, simply activate your Xbox Live Gold account to the programme by clicking here.