Microsoft scrapping Microsoft Points

[BPzeBanshee]

Got this in my email today:

Use Money instead of Points on Xbox

Transactions on Xbox will soon take place using your local currency instead of Microsoft Points. This change will make it even easier for you to access and enjoy the games, apps, HD movies and TV shows, and other great content you love on Xbox!

After the next Xbox 360 system update, when you next choose to initiate a purchase or redeem a Points card or code with your Microsoft account, we’ll put into your account an amount of currency equal to or greater than the marketplace value of your Microsoft Points. Your Microsoft Points will be retired, and you’ll immediately be able to use your new funds, in addition to other current payment methods available in your region, to purchase content from your favorite Xbox stores – or the Windows Phone Store on Windows Phone 8. For your current Microsoft Points balance, go to http://www.xbox.com/account.

Xbox Gift Cards (denominated in your local currency) will be available through our online retailers’ websites and in local retail stores starting in late 2013, and can be added to your Microsoft account at that time. In the meantime, please continue to purchase and redeem Microsoft Points cards and codes – we’ll accept them until further notice. The funds we put into your account at the time of the transition will expire in June 2015. Microsoft Points codes you received as part of Xbox Live Rewards, promotions, or contests will retain their original expiration dates after your account transitions.

For more information on the transition and what to expect, please visit http://www.xbox.com/pointsfaq.

Sincerely,
The Xbox Live Team

Interesting. I guess now the "real" price of XBLIG games are going to become apparent real quick, among other things.

[CStarFlare]

I was so happy to get this email. Too bad there's really nothing left I want to buy on XBLA.

[AntiFritz]

We've known about this for a long while. Still, using real money as opposed to monopoly money is always a good thing.

[BPzeBanshee]

I thought it rang a bell, as if someone posted it already, but didn't get far in search function and wasn't going to dig through 50+ pages of Friendly's material to see if it was mentioned there. My apologies if there was a thread for this already, I usually find the first threads for these things.

Anyway, I think it's a step in the right direction. I wonder if MS will lax up anything else with the 360 pending the Xbone's release (remove region check? I wish). Also, now that I think about it, a J360 may be best obtained now if it's going to go to stupid prices after the next console comes out, but I wouldn't know.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

The main thing is that MS is abandoning points based on the US $ so that devs in countries like UK & Japan with a high home currency to $ rate will get all the money owed to them.

It's a little late for CAVE and Grev since their games have been on the market for a while, but it could be just what the STG industry needs if the 360 is to continue to be the home of the genre. 1200msp of yen compared to $ is quite a big difference I would guess. Personally I would have wished MS would give devs backpay for the last 7-8 years they've practically stolen tbh.

Hope it doesn't intice STG devs to jump to the X1 as I don't want any major reasons to buy that console

EDIT I do like points as a customer though, since it's easy to find slightly cheaper from some UK retailers, meaning that I'll probably end up paying more after the switch

[Weak Boson]

It sure did feel good to get a points card cheap and feel like you were cheating the system!

But I am looking forward to being able to snaffle the odd game without having to go through all that palava.

Although since Microsoft have been in the mood for 180s recently we should be encouraging them to do one on preserving XBLA purchases into the next generation. It does make making digital purchases seem less appetizing.

[ZellSF]

There's also now an expiration date on the money Microsoft is storing for you. Would be fun if banks started doing the same

[TrevHead (TVR)]

There's also now an expiration date on the money Microsoft is storing for you. Would be fun if banks started doing the same

Shhh don't be giving Gaijin Punch and other bankers in here any ideas

[emphatic]

I wonder if it will mean that we can't buy stuff off the Japanese marketplace unless we use a Japanese card? That would suck.

[Ed Oscuro]

There's also now an expiration date on the money Microsoft is storing for you. Would be fun if banks started doing the same

Maybe you don't need the banks!

[BPzeBanshee]

There's also now an expiration date on the money Microsoft is storing for you. Would be fun if banks started doing the same

As I understood the FAQ on the matter, there's only an expiration date on what you have as MS points that get converted over, which is set to something like 3 years after the transaction. Money you put in yourself has no expiration date at all.

[RNGmaster]

Baller, I hated always having to send in money in fixed amounts and always having to pay more than the games actually cost.

Actually they'll probably still do that, just now with real money.

[Vexorg]

The main problem I've had with using real money values for digital purchases on consoles is that it doesn't account for sales tax. This means that, for example, if I buy a $20 PSN card, I can't make a $20 purchase with it because the total cost comes out to $21.95 here when sales tax is added in, and I have to find some other way to pay the other $2. This pretty much defeats the purpose of using pre-paid cards.

[genetik]

The main problem I've had with using real money values for digital purchases on consoles is that it doesn't account for sales tax. This means that, for example, if I buy a $20 PSN card, I can't make a $20 purchase with it because the total cost comes out to $21.95 here when sales tax is added in, and I have to find some other way to pay the other $2. This pretty much defeats the purpose of using pre-paid cards.

Sales Tax? Well, why don't you move to a state that doesn't charge tax. I know theres a few. You do know that PSN/Live/eShop don't really need you to specify the proper location that you're in if you use a gift card.

[shmuppyLove]

Wooo wooo

Been wanting to grab a few things ever since I got a 360, but couldn't be arsed to buy any MS points. Attached my PayPal account and just grabbed Guwange for $11.29

Wow I can't believe Futari Black Label (Hutari Black Lavel lol) is $15?? With taxes nearly $17 ... I'm going to have to think twice about that one, but will probably pick it up at some point.