Microsoft is set to replace its proprietary currency with real-world money by the end of the year, according to a company source.
Transactions across Xbox Live, Windows Phone and the Zune Marketplace will all be affected if the source, who spoke to Inside Mobile Apps, is correct.
Microsoft currently uses both real-world money and MS Points for online payment, with full games listed in local currency but DLC purchased using points.
If the change goes ahead, it will bring Microsoft's virtual stores in-line with others such as Apple's App Store and Sony's PlayStation Network which already use regional pricing, arguably offering greater clarity to customers.
It would also fix the problem of having to buy more MS Points than are needed due to them only being available in fixed amounts.
Source: Inside Mobile Apps
Comments
10About damn time!
Jesus those were a bad idea.
Points were such scam anyway. It's about time they're gone and now I would consider purchasing from XBL since it's not using the stupid points system.
I wouldn't actually welcome this. I like the fact that I can read about a game on an american site and its cost will be the same there as here and not be subject to the vagueries of that weeks exchange rates.
I also like the fact that there's competitiveness in the retail market and I can buy points for the cheapest price, and less than what MS charge.
It's been a while since I did any close comparision but PSN games in £ amounts have alsmost always been more than the MS price when converted back from points (barring Rock Band tracks which have always been a lot cheaper on PSN than Live)
MS are the odd one out when it comes to digital currency sure, but the points system has advantages and disadvantages. £pricing isn't some nirvana. I suspect that if the change does happen it'll be used to mask price hikes (probably bringing in line with PSN) either at launch or in the future.
It doesn't cost the same as in the US. There's part of the problem. It masks how much you're actually paying. You're just assuming you pay the same as everyone else and you're not.
Finally!
I personally quite like msp; once I have some points, I'm much more likely to spend them as the money itself is already spent. If I don't have them already, I'm in the same position as if the prices were in real money anyway. Though, now I own a PS3 too, I've discovered real money prices feel higher than the actual typical 19p should suggest.
However, what we may see here is a move to the same price that certain 1200msp point games are sold at in GAME, where they're £9.99 instead of the £10.20 conversion price.
Granted, this pales next to the cheaper cards bought off Amazon et al, which may then not be an option once msp are abolished.
Umm, I say that, but it didn't stop GAME selling £25 PSN wallet cards for £20, so real money doesn't necessarily end that if credit can still be acquired via a card; which is highly likely given the added security compared to providing MS with your credit card details (tip on that: use PayPal).
So all in all, possibly no monetary loss, a slight psychological adjustment, and an end to having to mentally calculate the real cost of games. Sounds good.
Its never been the points that were an issue for me more the nominations I was forced to buy them in.
A 100 point nomination would have been easier to swallow but the other day I had to buy 500 points as I was 20 short. OK I still have the 480, but thats not really the point.
It is on par with paying for a pint with a fiver and them telling you they will hang onto the change for your next drink.
Will be glad to see the back of em if Im honest.
I agree; they were a total scam. Forcing you to buy more "points" than you need because they purposely priced things that way annoyed the hell out of me. Microsoft lost a lot of money from me because I would buy games and DLC for my PS3 that I might otherwise have purchased on Xbox just because I only have to pay for what I'm getting on Playstation.
I fully agree with the most other guys here in the comments. Even I no more longer a Xbox 360 I always hated the points system, because it's confusing and everytime you buy MSP you have to grant M$ a free credit, because if you just need 20 MSP, you have to 500 MSP instead.