Rumor: Microsoft doing away with Microsoft Points system

Microsoft Points rumor

Here'southward a rumor that many gamers probably hope will come true: Microsoft may exist doing away with the Microsoft Points virtual currency organization. According to Within Mobile Apps, who cites an within source, the alter volition take place by the end of the year.

Microsoft Points have been effectually since the Xbox 360 launched in 2005. MS Points were originally used to buy Xbox Alive Arcade games and downloadable content for Xbox 360 games, though their employ has expanded to include purchases for Games for Windows Live (PC), Zune media, and DLC for a scattering of Windows Telephone games (Beards & Beaks, Gravity Guy, and Problems Village). 400 Microsoft Points equals five The states dollars, though the exchange rate varies in other regions.

A sizable number of people dislike Microsoft Points for a few reasons. Firstly, they innovate a needless conversion mechanic to online purchases. While I've never institute the dollar-to-points ratio the slightest bit confusing, evidently it does cause the gears of some people'due south minds to spark in an unpleasant fashion. Other major online content providers – namely iTunes and Sony's Playstation Network – simply use bodily currency, and so Microsoft'south reliance on its ain format appears as a weakness by comparing.

Secondly, it has historically been a challenge to buy the verbal amount of Microsoft Points 1 really needs. Originally, Points could only be purchased in increments of 1600 ($20) or 4000 ($50), with no disbelieve applied for picking the larger book. Somewhen Microsoft started allowing users to buy quantities of as depression as 400 Points directly through their website or the Xbox 360 console, alleviating the upshot to some extent. Simply even now, many pieces of content toll odd amounts like 480 Points ($six), and you can't purchase that exact number of Points.

On the other hand, I've long been a proponent of bringing MS Indicate purchases to Windows Phone. For gamers like me who support both the Xbox 360 and Windows Phone, sharing a balance beyond platforms would be very useful. Afterward all, Xbox Live accounts, GamerScore, and Avatars already transfer seamlessly.

MS Points accept a couple of other advantages too. I can purchase an MS Points card without paying tax and any purchases I make with information technology won't exist taxed. Only whenever I buy a Windows Phone game with real money, it's always taxed, so purchases of equivalent toll actually cost people like me more than on WP7. On top of that, Amazon and other retailers frequently offer discounts on Points cards, so savvy shoppers need never pay retail price on their Xbox Live purchases.

Getting dorsum to the rumor, it promises that all Microsoft platforms currently using MS Points will switch to the standard currency of each user's country. People's MS Point balances would simply convert to dollar amounts besides, so there'due south no danger of losing money already spent. Taxes could starting time applying to all purchases (depending on your location) though, which would sting. Fears of Points cards disappearing from retail, forcing gamers to make purchases with credit cards or PayPal, are unfounded. Microsoft would near certainly retain cards at retail – they'd just be for dollar amounts instead of points.

The currency switch is just a rumor for now, and nobody'south going to extract the truth of the thing from Microsoft. We've reached out to a few developers though (equally they've supposedly been informed of the impending change), and will report back if anything turns up.

Source: Within Mobile Apps via Kotaku

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