Microsoft to phase out microsoft points by end of the year

[Marmite]

Microsoft will phase out its Microsoft Points system by the end of the year, according to a new report.

The change will affect developers of apps for Windows Phone, the Zune Marketplace and Xbox Live, Inside Mobile Apps reports.

By the end of the year, according to the report, transactions will be based on the region set on the purchasing account, using real money.

Microsoft's current system sees gamers use real world cash to buy virtual currency - Microsoft Points - which are then used to buy games, movies and other products through the Xbox Marketplace.

Microsoft declined to comment on the report.

Source: Eurogamer.net

[BAZZA SNIKROT]

best get spending some then. ive got about 4000. shame you cant use them to renew your 12 month subscription

[Failed]

what about people who don't want to trust MS with there CC details. Kids with pocket money can go into game and buy 800msp for a pocket full of silver. I don't see it happening, it's obviously a slow month for news so there making stuff up

[After8mintz]

I am kinda in two minds about this, as with points you can save them for later to get something you want, but with money you have to have it at the time, to get stuff, also microsoft points actually look less scary than ?, because some things are 1600 points and ?10 look even more like you are wasting money, dont know if that makes sense

[Are You EXPd]

although it would be easier in a sense, its kind of a shame. with the points system you could buy points from 3rd parties for much cheaper than MS sold them, so you were effectively buying money for less money than everyone else, and hence getting stuff on the cheap.

also yeah, you better not have to link a card, that would be a royal butthole

[tcg joey]

another benefit of MS points is the missus has no clue over the exchange rate lol. She thinks 1200 msp is 2 quid

[Th3R1dge]

I think their true they'll probably require linking to a card because it's Microsoft. On the other side of things I know there was talk of some game retailers having dlc available to buy in store that was being trialed. For those people who don't have Live or want to link a credit card.

I'd hope that'd be an avenue they'd explore as not only would it keep accounts safe. Seeing as they don't seem to be able to stop hackers anymore than Sony. It'd also make an awful lot of people without Live happier as they can play the dlc packs that they're missing out on.

[g1nger1]

Well I for one (if this report is true) will not register a credit/debit card against my XBL account after my recent invasion by hacking b*stards!

Will be interesting to see how this effects MS as I find M$ points easy to use & very convenient - if it's not broken, don't try to fix it!

[msross]

It wont happen, but Banks (card Issuers) need to take more responsibility for one line based purchases,
How about having your main account still with that normal card you keep, but then allow the creation of virtual debit cards linked wit that account..
Set one up, Move an amount of money to that card, & then you can spend it.. Once it reaches 0 balance, that card is removed from the system.

Of course, this protection *should* be free... & of course will fall down in the case of xbox live where they want to keep your cards on record.. Perhaps a little bit more user inconvenience but improving user security..
I've no objection of paying to a random internet shop & handing over virtual account details (& perhaps buying more as a result) if I know the card details isnt access to a full account & overdraft & credit facilities.. Even moreso if I know the account details are stored by the store...

Sadly, Banks will charge for this feature, or include it solely within their 'premium' accounts (the ones you pay a yearly fee for & aren't business accounts... Someones got to keep pushing for those double digit growth figures in these hard times to maintain bonus')


Removing a large supply of stored bank account details would solve a lot of problems with the hacking & of course especially in scenarios like Sony's, or Play.com.. Perhaps even reducing the perceived view of user security (both as a general idea and personal user security)

[tcg joey]

Pre pay cards are the way forward. I've got a card with card one banking i pay about 50 a month onto that i use to pay my phone bill and buy some M$ points. It has no facilities what so ever no link to any other cards and issn't even registered to my current address. Safer and convenient