Rumour: Microsoft to Rid Themselves of MS Points for Real World Moneys
Posted
January 24, 2012 by Josh Curtis in Articles, Gaming News, Microsoft, Rumour, Xbox 360, Xbox 360, Xbox Live
A rumour has surfaced that, sometime this year, Microsoft plan on scrapping their traditional Microsoft Points for real world currency. If the rumour is true, is it a step in the right direction? For the more wary, purchasing content from the Xbox Live Marketplace has always been a real pain. The need for spending physical money on a little bit of plastic that somehow contains Microsoft Points is probably a system that should have died out a long time ago. So the time for change could be nigh (apparently). If the rumour is true, is this more convenient method for you? Many will have had a credit card attached to their account since the beginning and probably won’t be all that bothered, but let us know what you think.
5 comments
It would stay the same, if not get better. MS Points are just another step in the conversion, one that makes it more complex when it comes to exchange rates and conversion. By cutting out the middle man any inflation can be rectified easier, as well as give users a better sense of the actual comparative price against other countries.
Right now we see everything for the same amount of points, but if we were to factor in how much other countries pay for those on a per point basis there is going to be some radical variations. Nobody is going to do this, however so could remain unchecked and even exploited. Use real currency though and people can compare more easily and keep a watch on the prices they are paying for the exact same product as someone else. In the long run it has to be better for everyone.
Finally! If they also give us the ability to use the exact amount of money required so were not left with random amounts on our accounts (like PSN does) then it’ll be even better.
I hope you’re right Shaun, but one thing just occurred to me. It could create unnecessary regional variations in price.
But there’s variations already at the point at which we buy the actual points. Not to mention things such as on demand games already being in real currency.
I guess that’s true, but it would only get worse with real currency.