Microsoft's looking to phase out its country-spanning Microsoft Points scheme, if a report over at InsideMobileApps is to be believed.
"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 report claims, citing an anonymous source.
"The move puts the Windows Phone Marketplace in line with the purchasing practices used in the App Store and the Android Market." Your existing Microsoft Points will apparently be converted into local currency following the change. Mobile developers are apparently being warned to plan their DLC with the MP phase-out in mind.
We'll contact Microsoft for pointers. Expect them not to comment on rumour and speculation.
20 comments so far...
Captain_Chao5 on 24 Jan '12 said:
I assume they would also bring an end to Xbox Rewards then - as this is points based...
05mknort on 24 Jan '12 said:
Thank god for that, buying DLC and content will be far better when using cold hard cash. It will put an end to the youtube "Microsoft Points Generator" videos and those scam sites that say they do Microsoft Points cheaper than anywhere else and dont produce the codes.
Plus it would be far easier to buy things straight from the marketplace if you use cash as it would mean you wouldn't have to go to a third party before you could buy your content.
Bezza89 on 24 Jan '12 said:
A good point chao5. Though surely they'd just phase that out into sterling too.
This could be great news, mainly due to the confusion about how much you are actually paying for something. Hopefully we'll see cheaper releases as a result as we have been screwed paying more microsoft points than america for ages now anyway - they get crysis for 1600, we pay 1840. It renders the current system useless. Hopefully we'll see 1200 becoming £10, 800 is £6.85 but they'll round that up probably. 560 - £5, 400 - £3.50.
The BIG downside is we can no longer get points cards to get things cheaper, and who is to say they will stick to the current system as I have detailed, a 1200 map pack may become £15 for all we know.
comabob on 24 Jan '12 said:
1200points cost 9.99 from Gamestation
Captain_Chao5 on 24 Jan '12 said:
Sadly they will probably still get DLC cheaper due to US$ vs GBP£ exchange rates. How often do we see things that are the same in $'s and £'s...eg $40/£40 - so technically we are paying more.
CunningSmile on 24 Jan '12 said:
Am I the only one who thinks MS are going to use this as a way of slightly increasing prices? They are going to round everything up taking an 800 point purchase from about £6.30 to at least £6.99.
Bezza89 on 24 Jan '12 said:
Yes....
I dunno, US pay $60 dollars to our £40 if you're talking about games. Though MGS HD is $40 to our £30... Good point again.
CPT Random 82 on 24 Jan '12 said:
I'm pleased with the move as there is nothing worth than needing 50msp and having to buy 500 as the lowest option.
I much preferred the £value then points, PS3 use this option and it's about the only thing it does better than MS in terms of online purchases.
Thos. on 24 Jan '12 said:
As Bezza said, the system is breaking.
The original idea was that every game costs exactly the same points worldwide, and customers are charged different rates around the world for buying the original points.
However, as currencies fluctuate so much, the only way this could work long term would be to change the cost of points in every country worldwide every few months or so. But this would completely confuse customers as to the cost of games.
Now, because Microsoft doesn't do this, the money that publishers make from a game is becoming less and less in areas with strong economies. You're therefore getting companies starting to charge different amounts of MSP in different countries, rendering (one of) the main reasons for the system useless.
I'm not really sure why no one at Microsoft predicted this. It's not complicated. I have no financial background, and presumably people who know a bit about money helped set up the system - I wonder how they thought it would work long term?
Carnage24 on 24 Jan '12 said:
Really not happy about this. I don't trust Microsoft enough to enter my bank details and use real cash for purchase, mainly because my XBLA account was hacked sometime ago. Maybe if Microsoft let you buy network cards in cash amounts like Playstation do then I'd be interested.
CunningSmile on 24 Jan '12 said:
I'm the same, which is why I do all my XBL purchasing through Paypal. I trust them a lot more than MS.
Clanger67 on 24 Jan '12 said:
Yeah me too and never had any probs with paypal.Use them on ebay as well same story.
CunningSmile on 24 Jan '12 said:
Hang on, I've just reread the article and twice it make reference to Windows Phone and the Windows Phone store. Does this even apply to the 360?
Even looking at the link it still reads more like someone has read a release to do with the phone apps and taken a wild guess, why else is all the comparison with the Andriod and iPhone stores rather than PSN?
bamozzy on 24 Jan '12 said:
I hope not!!!
I prefer points as you have better deals in purchasing them also I don't want Microsoft having my Card details - there have been many issues with them taking more than they should!! Also ms points is far more secure than putting in bank card details!!!
Decent_Jam on 24 Jan '12 said:
Presumably the assumption is that since the new dashboard was modelled on Windows 7 phone, the systems will continue to run in parallel.
I'm not too attached to points to be honest, just as fiddly on the Wii and makes it more difficult to keep track of how much money you are are spending so you just splerge more often and regret it later.
msbhvn on 24 Jan '12 said:
Wii points cards were simple, though they've been phased out now in favour of iTunes-like eShop cards, 1 Wii Point was as near as dammit to 1p because 2000 points cards were £19.99. Nintendo's latest scam on the 3DS eShop is to have all the prices as multiples of 90p so you can't spend all of a £15/£25 eShop card, you end up with odd amounts.
I hope Xbox will switch to prepaid cards like everyone else these days. I saw Facebook ones in GAME earlier, what the hell are they selling? They're convenient because you can get them almost anywhere, and I'm not giving MS my bank card details for all the tea in China. It's way too easy to hack XBL accounts and I'd rather limit my losses. iTunes is the same, abysmal security, hence I always use prepaid cards.
EDIT: Just looked at my £15 eShop card and it says it's worth 1700 Wii points! Damn you, Nintendo!
Captain_Chao5 on 25 Jan '12 said:
Paypal is not 100%. I had my Paypal account hacked over xmas and my bank relieved of near £100. I'm still trying to get the last £40 back from them. I've now enabled the phone security for Paypal..hopefully wont happen again.
SGT PODDY99 on 25 Jan '12 said:
the only bad thing is that xbox rewards will be gone
hujiki on 26 Jan '12 said:
Bad idea, i rather pay for points than have my credit card details on xbox so if I'm hacked i only loose what ever points i have and no risking my money.
Toots McCleggan on 27 Jan '12 said:
Things will be more expensive
Account Hacking
Come on It's a crap idea why scrap a system we are used to and that Microsoft make a fortune from? If it happens its driven by greed.