Microsoft Points to Real Money Handover Explained

44
Lee Bradley

This one almost slipped us by amidst the trailer and screenshot madness of E3 2013, but it’s worth covering for those that may have missed it.

Microsoft has revealed the precise details of its switch from the use of Microsoft Points to real money on the Xbox Live Marketplace.

According to a FAQ posted by the platform holder, the switch will take place this autumn, presumably in line with the release of the Xbox One, but previously purchased MSP cards will still be valid for some time after that.

How long exactly? Well, Microsoft says that you will be able to register existing MSP cards "through 2014 and for a limited time thereafter."

Meanwhile, existing MSP on your account will be converted into real money when the switch begins, although the company hasn’t clarified the exact conversion rate it will use.

"To make this a seamless and positive experience for our customers, we have considered many factors to ensure that the amount deposited in your Microsoft account will be of equal or greater marketplace value than your Microsoft Points," said Microsoft. 

After the switch, any Microsoft Points that you deposit will immediately be converted into your local currency. You can still switch your account from region to region, but any money deposited in your account must be spent in the region you bought it.

This last measure is to prevent users from exploiting currency rates.

The switch to real money also means that you won’t be able to pick up MSP cards at a reduced rate any more. However, Microsoft will be introducing new Xbox Gift Cards later this year that may allow us to hunt around for bargains.

The Xbox Gift Cards will be redeemable against all Xbox Live content, including games, add-ons, movies and Windows Phone apps.

Earlier today, Microsoft revealed its revised Achievements system. You can read that here. It’s all change at Xbox HQ.

Comments
44
  • I'm surprised they still haven't noticed they're selling 400MSP for £3.20 via Zune, so 2000 costs £16.
  • Sounds reasonable
  • Those giftcards better work the same as microsoft point cards do.
  • It's all about the money. We won't be able to buy stuff outside of our own region because of currency rates, meanwhile they charge me €499 for their box. I am desperately looking forward to have an Xbox One. I can't even get a connection on my 360, I won't be able to use the many TV features on Xbox One since I'm in Europe, but I'm sure enough going to buy an Xbox One. The only thing that really annoys me is the currency conversion. That's just not fair.
  • So does this mean, if it stays, Xbox live rewards will give out money instead of the points or what?
  • @3 yeah thats kind of the point with the gift cards, they will work exactly like the MS point cards.
  • "This last measure is to prevent users from exploiting currency rates." All while mugging off the UK and Australia with the conversion rates for everything they produce. Still love ya MS but even with the 20% vat you are testing my patience.
  • Well basically this fucks a lot of people outside of the United States. Let's assume all prices are USD, everybody else paying in Canadian or Euros for example will obviously have to always pay more money for games and content than anybody living in the USA. Like right now, I can buy Microsoft points from the USA and redeem them on my Canadian account because it's a North American region. Now that seems a little bullshit to me. So basically I was buying more points for less and now I'll be paying more because of the real currency on everything instead. So basically, I love the real money thing but it just means that everything now just got more expensive.
  • Tax will be now be included in all purchases so in essence the real money system will be worth less to customers.
  • I realize I said "Now that seems a little bullshit to me" as if I was saying it about myself being able to get more points for a bit less, but I cut out a sentence and forgot that bit. But yeah basically #7, I agree with you, although the difference in Canadian and USD currency isn't very far off, we don't know if it'll stop at pure currency conversion or if they will charge MORE for the actual item + conversion rates.
  • they made this pad for the PS4 source AngryJoe- http://i.imgur.com/oSi1MMu.jpg
  • So, they will also convert each XBLA/DLC prices from MSP to local currency ?
  • @12 correct and some may be at a lower cost they are gonna try to give you more money for the msp you currently have
  • Despite the complaints about conversion rates, everyone seemed to want this over the years; the removal of MSPs, so you can't really argue now...
  • Gift cards "soon after"? How soon? Cause I sure a shit will NOT be linking my credit card to my profile. Nuh-uh.
  • @15 So you won't link your credit card but you will be watched in your own home?
  • Thank christ for that! A bit of clarity at last. If I am paying £5 I want to know it £5 and not how ever many bloody points. Halleujah!
  • @17 I prefer not knowing how much I'm spending...
  • SOUNDS GOOD OK
  • After E3 and all the awful polices the new xbox has set in place I decided to go with PS4.....ughhh xbox one failed us...so they wont need to worry about taking my "real" money anymore..
  • this can only be a good thing, they have been ripping us off with MSP for years with the silly prices that are always just a little over the bands you can buy... also if hey convert the points into money at a little higher like they said it might be good to buy up some points now to make a little profit
  • All I want is just one, just one article without whiny bitches saying "I'm getting a PS4". There's a PlayStation Trophy site, bitch on there.
  • Personally I liked the points system. I always had my eyes open for a bargain and would get points when they went on sale/offer. Will b interesting to see how they price games with out them now.
  • OT: From what I can tell it's all the same, except now you won't need a calculator to work out how much you're spending.
  • How can you guys not mention that your converted ms points expire after one year?? http://www.gametrailers.com/side-mission/54533/your-microsoft-points-will-expire-within-one-year-when-microsoft-transitions-to-local-currency
  • @24 Taking the time to calculate wasn't a pain compared to the fact that I saved more than 10 € on each 4200 MSPoint card I bought on the internet. I think I must have bought around 10 4200 point cards and they all cost 37 € instead of the 50 € I needed to pay in France. So no, sorry, it's not really the same. I had 50 € of points for 37 € spent, now I'll have 37 € of points for 37 € spent.
  • #5 Has a great question: Will they give out money for XBOX Live Rewards or cancel this program entirely? Sure, it's usually only 20 MSP a month for a Survey, but that adds up over time. I've gotten several DLC for free by accumulating points gained from answering surveys and the like...
  • @22 Amen to that. Comment sections on video game news sites since Monday have been virtually unreadable
  • They really should've just made the original point system more easier to keep track of and have a better amount usage. For instance. $1.00 is 100msp. So when a game is on sale for $3, it would be 300msp. Not this 240msp crap that always leaves you with awkward, and sometimes unspendable points. (Yes, for the sake of the argument, I made up unspendable.)
  • Let the mspoints deal hunt begin I can see all of us buying rediculast amounts of points befor the announcement but there's one problem they will sell at a higher price when the conversion comes out
  • Do we have to put our bank details on xbox or do we just buy a card of $12.99 instead of say 1200msp and put a 25 didget code just like with msp
  • So what is to become of the REWARDS programme?
  • 80 MSP = $1 US is the current conversion rate...
  • 4@ you cant play games on the xbox one without an internet connection
  • @25 I was going to say the exact same thing. Your converted points expire one year after they are converted. How can that not be mentioned in this article? It may not be a big issue for some but for others that have a lot if MS points currently in their account, it is a big deal. Also, I know a lot of people hated the MS points program. I did not. I've never even come close to paying retail price for MS points. Those days are gone. I can't imagine we will be able to find these new gift cards for 50% or even 66% off, like we have been able to find MS points.
  • Might as well start buying stuff now, because they'll probably screw you over on the conversion part.
  • Not sure I'll be buying as much stuff now that my "points" have a dollar sign in front of them. It's a lot easier when you're like "lol it's only 1200 points, I can't even remember what that is in real money. Buy!". Saying "It's $15?, fuck that" will make things a bit harder.
  • Anyone else keen with the idea of banning anyone that puts, "Derpa derpa PS4 derpa derpa" in every thread? Clearly you're saying "fuck Microsoft and the Xbone", so... why let them stick around? And yes, I'm completely fine with Kinect spying on me while I jerk off to Japanese Anime... er... I mean, I'll just disable the camera. Can't disable my credit card once it's linked to my account.
  • So I get microsoft points through xbox live rewards and bing. Does that mean It will give me money instead of microsoft points? And what about the live membership cards? would those change as well?
  • At least EB Games will no longer be able to charge $60 for only $50 worth of Microsoft Points.
  • @ 38 And then can we ban dicks like you who whine about people voicing there opinion on the internet...deal with it boy. And no one wants to here about you jerking off to Japanese anime on an Xbox achievement site either, douche.
  • This is bad news for me. I get my live subscription en MS points through an online site we're its around 20% cheaper...
  • Well this change over affect people on the 360 as well?
  • This is bollocks, not only do I have to register online or my Xbox won't play but now I have to pay actual money for points a'la PS3. I think I may defect, and not bother with DLC
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