How to Buy a Digital Xbox Game as a Gift This Holiday 2025 (Console, PC, Web, and ROG Ally)

Giving a digital Xbox game as a gift is one of the easiest ways to surprise the gamer in your life this holiday season. Instead of worrying about stock issues, shipping delays, or wrapping physical boxes, you can send a full game, add-on, or Game Pass subscription straight to their Xbox or PC in just a few clicks. With the Microsoft Store on Xbox consoles, the Xbox app on PC (including handhelds like the ROG Ally), the Microsoft Store on Windows, and the Microsoft Store online in your browser, you have multiple convenient ways to send a code that’s ready to redeem and play almost instantly.

This flexibility makes digital gifting perfect for last-minute presents, long-distance friends, and families who share digital libraries across devices. As long as you know the recipient’s email or have them on your Xbox friends list and you are both in the same region, you can pick the right game or subscription, send it as a gift, and let them handle the download on their preferred device. It’s a modern, low-stress way to give something personal that they’ll actually use and enjoy.

Why Digital Xbox Game Gifting Is Perfect for the Holidays

Digital gifting on Xbox and PC lets you send games, add-ons, and subscriptions in minutes without leaving the couch or worrying about shipping delays. Whether your friend plays on an Xbox Series X|S, a Windows PC, or a handheld like the ROG Ally running Xbox on PC, the built-in “Buy as gift” options make the process straightforward.​

All you need is the Microsoft Store on Xbox, the Microsoft Store on Windows, Xbox on PC, or the Microsoft Store online, plus your recipient’s Xbox account email or Gamertag. The gift arrives as a redeemable code tied to their account, and they can start downloading as soon as they hit Redeem.​

Before You Start: Key Things to Know

There are a few important details to check before you buy an digital Xbox game as a gift. First, make sure your recipient is in the same country or region as you, because Xbox digital gift codes can generally only be redeemed in the region where they were purchased.​

You should also decide what you’re gifting: a full game, an add-on like DLC or skins, or a subscription such as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Many Xbox games and add-ons support digital gifting, and subscriptions like Game Pass Ultimate are a great option if you are not sure which specific title they want.​

How to Gift a Digital Game on Xbox Console

On Xbox consoles, gifting is built directly into the Microsoft Store, and it’s the most “console-native” way to send a digital present. Here’s the basic flow you can walk your readers through in your article:​

1. Open the Microsoft Store on the Xbox home screen.​

2. Find the game, add-on, or subscription you want to gift.​

3. Look for the gift wrap icon or the “Buy as gift” option on the product page.​

4. Choose whether to send the gift to a friend from your Xbox friends list or enter an email address manually.​ 

5. Confirm your payment method and complete the purchase.​

Once you complete the purchase, your recipient will receive both an Xbox message and an email containing the code and a Redeem button. After they hit “Redeem code,” the game or subscription is added to their account, and they can install it from their console like any other purchase.​

Gifting with the Xbox App on PC (Including ROG Ally)

If you prefer gifting from a Windows gaming PC or a handheld like the ROG Ally using Xbox on PC, the flow is essentially the same as on console. This is especially convenient if you already browse or buy games from the Xbox app on PC.​

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Open the Xbox app on PC and sign in to the Microsoft account used for purchases.​

2. Search for the game you want to send and open its store page.​

3. Click the “…” (more options) button and choose “Buy as gift” from the dropdown.​

4. Select an Xbox friend or enter an email address to send the gift.​

5. Pick your payment method, confirm, and send.​

On a ROG Ally or similar handheld running Xbox on PC, this process is identical when using the Store tab in the Xbox Full Screen Experience. Your recipient will still receive an email with a redeemable code and can install on console or PC according to the game’s capabilities.​

How to Gift via Web Browser (Microsoft Store Online)

For people who are away from their console or PC, the Microsoft Store online is a quick, device-agnostic option that works from any modern browser on desktop or mobile. The main difference is that gifting through the web only supports the email method, not direct Xbox friends list selection.

1. Visit the Microsoft Store’s Xbox section in a browser and sign in to your Microsoft account.​

2. Search for the game, add-on, or subscription you want to gift and open its product page.​

3. Click the “…” menu next to the main Buy button and select “Buy as a gift.”​

4. Enter the recipient’s email address, confirm your payment method, and complete the purchase.​

The recipient will receive an email that includes a code plus a Redeem link that takes them to their Microsoft account for redemption. Once redeemed, they can install the content on Xbox or PC, depending on the product’s supported platforms.​

Gifting from the Microsoft Store on Windows

If your audience already shops through the Microsoft Store app on Windows, digital Xbox game gifting from there is almost as simple as from the console. Like the web version, this path also uses the email method rather than the friends list.​

You can break it down like this:

• Open the Microsoft Store app on Windows and sign in.​

• Search for the game, add-on, or subscription and open its page.​

• Select the “Buy as a Gift” icon to the right (or below) the main Buy button.​

• Enter your recipient’s email address, confirm payment, and finish checkout.​

The Microsoft Store on Windows then sends a digital code to that email, which can be redeemed via the Microsoft Store, Xbox app, or Xbox console once the user signs in with the same account. This is a good option for people who manage both PC and Xbox libraries from a single Windows machine.​

What You Can Gift: Games, Add-ons, and Game Pass

One of the advantages of Xbox digital gifting is that it extends beyond full games. The Microsoft Store also supports gifting many DLCs, add-ons, and subscriptions, giving you flexibility when your recipient already owns key titles.​ Here are some options to choose from:

• Full digital games: Great for big holiday releases or long-awaited wish list titles.​

• Add-ons and DLC: Map packs, character skins, and expansions can be gifted when your friend already owns the base game.​

• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: A subscription gift that unlocks hundreds of games across console, PC, and cloud, plus online multiplayer access.​

Not every product type is giftable and there can be restrictions on certain discounted items, older platforms, or consumable in-game currency. For full details and edge cases, you can safely link to the official Xbox gifting support page.​

Common Restrictions and Tips for Smooth Gifting​

• Same-region requirement: Gift codes must usually be redeemed in the same country or region where they were purchased, so the sender and recipient should match.​

• Eligible products only: While most modern Xbox and PC titles and many add-ons are giftable, non-eligible items (like some legacy titles or certain consumables) will not show a “Buy as gift” option.​

• Check platform support: If your recipient plays primarily on PC, look for “Xbox Play Anywhere” or clear platform labels so they can install where they play.​

You can also suggest that senders double-check the recipient’s email address and confirm they are using the correct Microsoft account before redeeming the digital Xbox game code. For any unusual issues, the Xbox support gifting page is the authoritative place to send them.​

Platform Overview

Here is a simple table to help you make the best decision that is right for you.

Digital Xbox game gifting takes the stress out of holiday shopping by turning great games and subscriptions into instant, personalized presents your friends and family can redeem in seconds. Whether you send a code from your console, the Xbox app on PC or ROG Ally, the Microsoft Store online, or the Microsoft Store on Windows, the core idea is the same: choose what you want to gift, send it to their email or Gamertag, and let them claim it on their own schedule. That consistency across platforms makes it easy to follow the same simple steps no matter where you are shopping from.

By keeping an eye on region restrictions, checking that the product is eligible for gifting, and choosing content that matches how and where your recipient plays, you can avoid common pitfalls and make sure your gift lands perfectly. From big-name releases to DLC and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, digital gifting gives you options for every type of player while keeping the whole process fast, flexible, and completely couch-friendly.

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