Microsoft to Discontinue MS Points

[Gahars]

It has been reported (according to "a source with knowledge of the company's decision") that Microsoft will discontinue its use of Microsoft Points, its "currency" for Xbox Live, Zune, and in game purchases on the Windows Phone.

Microsoft’s proprietary virtual currency system, Microsoft Points, will be phased out by the end of the year, according to a source with knowledge of the company’s decision. The change will affect developers for Windows Phone, the Zune marketplace and Xbox Live.

By the end of 2012, all transactions will be based on the region set on the purchasing account and real money will be used to purchase all Windows Phone content. The move puts the Windows Phone Marketplace in line with the purchasing practices used in the App Store and the Android Market.

Source: Inside Mobile Apps

While there is nothing official to confirm this story (And Microsoft has refused to comment), it certainly makes a lot of sense. After all, it's a lot easier to just purchase your games/dlc/what-have-you directly than to contend with a middle man currency.

This news is more than welcome. The impact won't be huge or anything, but it will certainly be more convenient. So yeah, hooray for minor victories, I guess.

 

[DinohScene]

Finally!

It's a pain in the bum to calculate the MS points to real value.
Some stores sell a 800 points card for 10 bucks whilst online sites and other stores sell it for 10-12~ bucks.

It's far better to either pay for it in real currency.
Given that 1 MS point = 1,25 cents based upon the lowest value of 1 800 MSpoints card.

 

[Joe88]

will current points on the account be converted?

 

[DinohScene]

Let's hope that MS isn't so stupid not to convert the points to real currency.

They could get a big lawsuit on their ass if they didn't converted it.

 

[Gahars]

will current points on the account be converted?

Undoubtedly. It just sounds like they are cutting out the middle man and converting everything into cash directly (So a 400 points game would now say $5), and nothing more.

Microsoft would not erase people's money through this process (or, if that was even a possibility, they would likely give a fair warning long in advance). As DinohScene was saying, that would be a huge PR disaster and could land easily land them in court.

 

[chris888222]

This should be done in what... 2010?

Anyway, great move. I hate MS Points in general. As Nintendo also swapped in using real currency, definitely MS will follow.

 

[Zerosuit connor]

Wow, took them long enough. I was sick of having leftover points.

 

[Fudge]

Probably as a way to stop the selling of stolen accounts.

 

[Scott-105]

Thanks god. I hate MS points.

 

[Joe88]

Probably as a way to stop the selling of stolen accounts.

that wouldnt matter since the money (no matter in what form its in) is still attached to the acount

 

[Fudge]

Probably as a way to stop the selling of stolen accounts.

that wouldnt matter since the money (no matter in what form its in) is still attached to the acount

Accounts are commonly sold pre-loaded with MS points. This will no longer be possible if this is true.

 

[Joe88]

how so?

commit credit card fraud, load account with a ton of funds, sell it
or
steal accounts with funds on them already, sell them

its the same exact thing as whats going on right now

 

[sputnix]

Probably as a way to stop the selling of stolen accounts.

that wouldnt matter since the money (no matter in what form its in) is still attached to the acount

Accounts are commonly sold pre-loaded with MS points. This will no longer be possible if this is true.

A digital wallet of some sort will be added as people will still want cards so account will probably be sold with filled wallets [if MICRO$OFT is smart they'll limit to a small amount around $100 so accounts can't be sold with thousands of dollars attached to it

 

[notmeanymore]

I do hope that I won't need to buy $20 on a Microsoft card just to get a $5 DLC/Game...

 

[Guild McCommunist]

Good, it was always a pain in the ass to have to go through the process of buying Microsoft points only to buy something else. Obviously there were just there to force people to spend more money than needed (say you want a 240 point item, well too bad since you'll have to buy 400 points). Plus it was a bit retarded that half the items would be in actual money and the other half in points. Like RE4 HD is $20 but Shadow Complex is 1200 points. What gives?

 

[T-hug]

Perhaps another sign the next Xbox console is on it's way?

 

[MR_COW]

It was ridiculous for the 360, but I think it was even more ridiculous that the points system was on the Zune Marketplace as well. If they honestly wanted that to catch on with normal people, how the hell did they expect them not to hate paying 80 MSP when iTunes, a system that was already dominating, used real money.

 

[Foxi4]

Perhaps another sign the next Xbox console is on it's way?

Nah, I think they just want to facilitate using the system and cut account theft down. Now that there will be no reason to buy points, there will also be no reason to store them, decreasing the risks.