Paying in the UK · Gift cards
Game gift cards, explained
Gift cards are the simplest way to give a fixed amount to spend on games, or to give yourself a hard budget. Each one only works on its own platform, and once redeemed the money can't come back out.
Last checked 24 September 2026
The four big cards compared
| Card | Spend it on | Values in UK shops | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam gift card or Wallet code | Steam only | Varies by shop; online top-ups are £4, £10, £25, £50 or £100 | Codes bought in shops can't be refunded by Valve. Funds can't be moved between accounts |
| PlayStation Store gift card | PlayStation Store only | Varies by shop | Money added to the wallet can't be refunded. For child accounts it goes on the family manager's wallet |
| Xbox gift card | Xbox and Microsoft Store | Varies by shop | Non-promotional balance doesn't expire. A child can spend it without asking for approval |
| Nintendo eShop card | Nintendo eShop, UK and Ireland accounts | £15, £25, £50, £75, £100 | Adds exactly its face value. The eShop balance is capped at £340 |
Fortnite gift cards add to an Epic account balance, and Apple and Google Play cards add to the phone store balance, which is how games on iPhone and Android are paid for.
Using gift cards as a budget
A gift card is the easiest hard limit there is: when the balance is spent, spending stops, whatever the game's store suggests. It works well for teenagers and for adults who want to keep a monthly games budget separate from their bank account.
- On Xbox, money on a child's account can be spent without asking. Think of a gift card as pocket money rather than as something you approve item by item.
- On PlayStation, child accounts can't hold their own funds, so the card goes on the parent's wallet and the monthly spending limit still applies.
- On Epic, redeeming a Fortnite gift card doesn't need the parental PIN, but spending it does if the PIN for purchases is turned on.
Refunds and protection
Once a gift card has been redeemed, the balance can't be turned back into money. If a game bought with the balance is refunded, the money usually returns to the same wallet. Buying a gift card with a credit card and then spending it on a game generally means section 75 protection doesn't reach the game purchase, because the card paid the gift card seller.
Gift card scams
Gift cards are a favourite tool of fraudsters because a code read out over the phone is spent within minutes. The pattern is always the same: someone claiming to be from HMRC, the police, the DVLA, a bank or tech support says you owe money and must pay in Steam, Apple or Google Play cards.
No genuine organisation takes payment in gift cards. If anyone asks you to buy gift cards and share the codes, stop. It is a scam.
- Never share a gift card code with someone you don't know, and never send a photo of the back of a card.
- If you have been caught out, contact your bank straight away.
- In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, report it to Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud in December 2025, online or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.
Sources: Steam refunds and Add Funds pages, PlayStation gift card and wallet pages, Microsoft gift card terms, Nintendo UK eShop card pages, City of London Police and Take Five, checked 24 September 2026.